By Master Sgt. Scott King
40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs |
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, April 12, 2006 — Over the skies of Afghanistan, during a combat mission, one B-52 pilot got a surprise of a lifetime – “hooking” up with family.
“I was surprised to hear her voice,” said Capt. Jeremy Holmes, 40th Air Expeditionary Group B-52 aircraft commander. “To make absolutely sure it was her, without throwing out any names over the radio, I asked if there were any Packers fans on the jet tonight. Right away the boom operator said, ‘yeah, the co-pilot is a Packers fan.’ then I knew for sure it was her.”
After flying six hours, the captain positioned his B-52 to take on fuel from the KC-135, his sister, 1st Lt. Jordan Holmes, was co-piloting.
“I thought wow; this is going to be a story to tell the parents,” Jeremy said. “I was proud of her. My kid sister, who I used to laugh and joke around with and never took seriously, is now providing our bomber the gas to get the mission done.”
The B-52s Jeremy flies here support Operation Enduring Freedom by providing close air support for U.S. and coalition troops on the ground in Afghanistan. The KC-135s Jordan flies are assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling located at another forward operation location.
The mid-air rendezvous was completely coincidental.
“I wasn't even sure it was him, until I heard him over the radio say, ‘So are there any Packer fans onboard tonight?’ That's when I knew he was on that jet,” Jordan said. “For the most part, the KC-135s at my location support Operation Iraqi Freedom, and this was an OEF mission. I know the B-52 community is pretty small, so I thought I may hear him out there one night. This mission in particular was special because I know I had an impact on my brother completing what he had to do for the night.” |
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| U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Holmes, a B-52 pilot operating from a forward operating location, received mid-air fuel during a combat mission over Afghanistan from his sister, the co-pilot of a KC-135. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer |
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| U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jordan Holmes, a KC-135 pilot operating from a forward operating location refueled a B-52 her brother piloted during a combat mission over Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo |
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Even though the two were just a planes-length away from each other during refueling, it was still all business.
“I exchanged simple ‘hellos’ and ‘how’s it goings’ with Jordan, then went on to hooking up and getting my gas,” Jeremy said. “After that, I thanked their crew for the ‘drink’ and wished them a safe flight back home.
“Talking with her afterward, we both wanted to say more to each other on the radio, but knew we were there for a reason much more important than a family reunion.”
Service to country is deeply routed through their entire family. Their grandfather served in the Navy during World War II and their father was a KC-135 boom operator.
“I think it is kind of cool how us kids ended up serving our Air Force and based within three states of each other,” Jordan said. “Jeremy is a B-52 pilot and his wife is an electronic warfare officer on B-52s. Josh, our brother, joined after college and is a B-52 radar navigator. Jared, our youngest brother is in security forces, and I'm flying KC-135s. We are all really close, so it's nice we get to see each other quite a bit - even halfway around the globe.”
Brother and sister are combat veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with more than 300 combat flying hours combined.
“I’m privileged to be serving my country in the global war on terror, and it’s unique to serve alongside my brothers and sister,” Jeremy said. “Two countries now have the chance for freedom. As it is said, freedom is not free. It’s paid for by deployments, family separation, and in the worst case, blood. For our generation and future generations across the world to grow up free, without fear of their government or fear of a neighboring government, it is worth the price.
“As for this particular mission,” he said. “The common cause of defending freedom and democracy brought my sister and me together over the skies of Afghanistan that night – it’s a night I will never forget.” |
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