Independence Day might seem to be an unlikely time to deploy members of the Missouri Air National Guard to Afghanistan, but for members of the 139th Airlift Wing in St Joseph, it is perfectly appropriate.

“In the military, there are no holidays,” according to Lieutenant Colonel Barb Denny.  “The fact that we’re leaving on the Fourth of July, I think, just drives home the fact that we’re fighting for freedom.”

“That’s why we’re going, and the Fourth of July is just the perfect day to send folks off in that manner.”

More than 40 members of the wing gathered at Rosecrans Airport Wednesday morning to begin a deployment to the Afghanistan Theater.  The flight crew and maintenance personnel are expected to be overseas for about four months.