AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Phenix City, Ala. native crew chief Staff Sgt. Steve Young exchanges a final salute with A-10 pilot 1st Lt. Chris "Harpoon" Laird before a combat mission over Al Anbar Province in western Iraq. The Airmen belong to the 438th Air Expeditionary Group activated here Jan. 15, 2007, to provide close air support for Coalition Forces in the region. Within hours of standing up as a fully operational combat flying unit, the group was launching its fierce 'Warthogs' into battle. Since activating, the group has flown some 2,648 flying hours on 820 combat sorties providing CAS in some of the most challenging urban terrain in Iraq including Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad and Baquba, overcoming communications jams inherent in operations there, and remaining focused, vigilant and effective against a determined enemy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ken Hall)
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