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Fayette officer in command in Iraq

A Fayetteville resident is serving on the front lines in the global

war on terrorism.

U.S. Air Force Col. Theodore L. Truex, the husband of Linda Truex, is

currently deployed to the 447th Air Expeditionary Group, Iraq, where

he is serving as the commander of the group.

A 26-year Air Force veteran, he is reserve officer permanently assigned

to the Pentagon, where he is the Senior Individual Mobilization Augment

to the director, Global Reach programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary

of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In his

civilian job, Col Truex is a pilot for Delta Air Lines.

The group, based at the Baghdad International Airport, supports Operation

IRAQI FREEDOM. The group was established in April 2003 after elements

of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division captured the airport April 4,

2003.

The group provides base operating

support for Camp Sather, aerial port operations, aerial control and

command and control of the airportís

military runway. The group supports U.S. and coalition forces with airlift,

supplies and delivery of these forces and materials within the area of

operations.

The airfield is a joint civilian-military airport, with a military ramp

on one side and a civilian runway on the other for civilian passenger

airways and humanitarian airlift operations.

All those missions mean people on this deployment go above and beyond

their normal duties to get their job accomplished, Col. Truex said.

"I am constantly amazed at how many hours my people are working

and how much effort they put into every task," he said. "The

weather is hot and the conditions are not optimum, but they give it their

all because they know what they are doing is important to the United

States, the people of Iraq as well as the future security of the world."

As the commander, Col. Truex is responsible for the readiness of the

group and the working relationship with other coalition partners in the

area.

"We interface with the highest levels of leadership from the U.S.

and coalition forces and the new Iraqi government," Col. Truex said. "We

are working hard to make sure the transition of power goes smoothly,

as well as all those important milestones before and after the transition."

Ultimately, the commander's job is to take care of his people,

a duty Col. Truex keeps foremost in his mind. "I want everyone who

comes to the 447th to return to their loved ones," he said. "The

safety and security of the people [at Baghdad International Airport]

concerns me greatly. We do everything we can to make this place as safe

and secure as possible in this trying environment."

Although deployments can be educational and rewarding, they are not

without personal sacrifice. The toughest individual challenge of a deployment

for me personally is the separation from family and friends. But, hoping

to make a positive difference in the world can be gratifying, Col Truex

said.

"Leaving my family was hard," he said. "However,

as I look around I see people who have been here for over a year. Some

were

headed home and got turned around. Other people have made the ultimate

sacrifice. That kind of dedication makes me proud to be a part of this

force and proud to do my part in freeing the Iraqi people."

More than 950 active duty, Air Reserve, Air National Guard, and civilian

personnel are assigned to the 447th AEG. The group also supports the

Multi National Forces, Iraq and the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority.

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