Around 10 p.m. on June 3, three days after 1st Lt. Luz Apontè, 177th Public Affairs Officer, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, arrived at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq; the base came under rocket attack by foreign insurgents.

      One of the insurgents' rockets hit the base's Munitions Storage Area where confiscated Iraqi weapons were stored resulting in a chain reaction of explosions.  For the next four hours ammunition, mines, rockets and bombs, including two 2,000-pound bombs, exploded.  “Everything in the nearby area caught fire,” observed 1st Lt. Apontè.  “It was something right out of the movies.”

      “I helped with the evacuation of personnel from our living area to the nearby protective bunkers,” stated 1st Lt. Apontè.  “It was definitely by far one of the scariest situations I have ever been in.  At first we did not know what was going on, finally news about what was happening came in over the radio.”

      Explosions continued for approximately two hours followed the initial blast.   Sirens howled, while shells and rockets shrieked into the night sky over the base and into the city as shrapnel fell to the ground; thick smoke rolled across the whole area.  The public address system warned everyone to stay under cover until further instructions were directed.   The buildings closest to the explosion suffered extensive structural damage.  Amazingly enough there were no casualties.

      “We finally got back into our rooms around 2:30 in the morning,” continued 1st Lt. Apontè.  “Our rooms were banged up. The ceiling in my room fell onto my bed and wall locker.  Two days later the Commander and I went over to where the explosions happened.  There were two craters at least twenty feet deep and fifty or so feet wide. There was shrapnel everywhere.”

      Great way to start a deployment.

      For the next 90 days 1st Lt. Apontè served as the Executive Officer, as well as the Public Affairs and Protocol Officer for the 506th Air Expeditionary Group.  She supported a base community of approximately 4,000 United States and Coalition Forces troops.  In addition to her regular duties, she was responsible for the base's hometown news release program and a weekly online paper showcasing joint-service achievements.

      During the deployment, base personnel were constantly exposed to rocket attacks and small arms fire.  There was also the continuous presence of snipers in the area.

      Even though the events of June 2 were unforgettable, she recalls another significant incident that she will forever carry with her.  On Aug. 8, a 122-millimeter rocket hit the base.  An Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent died from injuries received during the attack.

      The remains of the agent were transported back to the states the next day.  “You get chills when you see photos of flag-draped caskets containing U.S. military personnel but it does not carry the same impact of seeing it first hand,” stated 1st Lt. Apontè.  “As the casket was carried into the cargo plane, I could not help to feel sadness and pride all at once.  It is a reminder of the sacrifices we all are willing to make in the name of freedom.”