Fightin' Samurai arrive Published Jan. 30, 2007 By Lt. Col. Charles Toplikar 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing January 23, 2007 -- We are set up and actively engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom. All personnel are healthy and doing well. Our aircraft are also in great shape. We began flying combat operations in support of the coalition ground forces yesterday. And, while we have not expended any ordnance on the insurgents yet, we have already had some success utilizing our advanced targeting pods to locate Improvised Explosive Devices. -- Possibly saving the lives of our American GIs on the ground. Our biggest obstacle so far has been the rain and mud. When it rains here it floods. The dirt turns into a thick, pasty and heavy mud that gets on and into everything! We actually have a "MUDCON" requiring us to take additional measures to control the effects the mud has on our operation. For instance, we have to spray off our vehicles with high pressure sprayers before driving them near the flight line. We also have to take off our muddy shoes and put on clean ones before entering some of the facilities like the gym. All in all, our deployment has gone great so far, with everyone pitching in to bring us up to full speed with our additional squadron here in the 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing. Thank you for your sacrifice and support of all the Fightin' Samurai. We are doing important work for the protection of Americans at home and abroad. We could not do it without your support.