442nd CES returns from Iraq, gains new commander Published July 31, 2008 By Master Sgt. Bill Huntington 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Citizen Airmen from the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, from mid-January to June to help maintain that base's infrastructure and carry out several building projects there. Their collective efforts garnered the Engineers a Meritorious Unit Award. The deployment included the majority of the squadron's command group and many of the tradecraft sections such as structures, heating ventilation and air conditioning, and plumbing. Upon arrival, the Whiteman reservists joined Airmen from other bases around the Air Force. HVAC troops kept busy installing and repairing air conditioning units for Kirkuk while others took on projects designed to expand Iraq's growing Air Force. "We did a lot of work with the Coalition Air Force Training team," said Maj. Ross McAfee, operations officer. "Their job is to help the Iraqis stand up their own Air Force, both training-wise and operational." A project allied to this mission included the construction of a 34,000 square foot aircraft parking ramp for the Iraqi Air Force to use for parking their aircraft. The ramp accommodated 17 aircraft, enabling the training of 100 additional Iraqi pilots annually. Master Sgt. Andy Weeks, one of the "dirt boys," had a scare as he cleared a five-acre site strewn with debris remaining from previous combat actions. His D-8 bulldozer unearthed some unexploded ordnance. "As I went along I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a fin of some type kick up in the air," Sergeant Weeks said. "As I looked down at it, it rested on top of my track. It was the fin of a 120 millimeter mortar." After some tense moment, Kirkuk's explosive ordnance disposal team arrived to remove the UXO.