News

Boots off the ground in Iraq

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Denise Hauser
  • 446th Airlfit Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  A Reservist just doing his job, was one of the last of his kind to step foot out of Iraq.

Master Sgt. Travis Hargitt, a 446th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight specialist returned from a six-month deployment to Ali Base, Iraq.

Servicemembers who work in EOD neutralize and dispose of explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction using X-ray equipment, robotics systems, and remote-controlled tools and techniques.

"The mission was to support air flow in and out of the base to facilitate the Iraq draw down," said Hargitt. "The Army controlled the base; the Air Force owned the flightline and took care of anything EOD related in that area."

The 22-year-Reservist said that he worked side by side with the Army throughout his deployment when the Army worked outside the wire, the Air Force was there to support them by keeping the base secure.

"We were driven to be there by the Air Force, but the support provided was 70 percent Army and 30 percent Air Force."

Hargitt said he was there for the drawdown of troops in Iraq, which was complete near the end of 2011.

"As the drawdown took place, everyone funneled through Ali Base, said Hargitt. "Myself and an active duty Air Force memeber turned out to be the last EOD tech's to leave Iraq. I remember thinking it was surreal. I asked myself, 'Are we really leaving, is it really over?'

"Hargitt always give 110 percent to his job here at home station and I have no doubt he gave even more on his deployment," said Maj. Meghan Plendl, flight commander for EOD here. "I'm proud to have him as one of my own."