GUARD FROM EDWARDS DOING HIS PART FOR WAR WITH IRAQ 'I'M PROUD TO BE HERE AND PROUD TO SERVE MY COUNTRY'.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Like many young people joining the Air Force out of high school, Johnathan Stephens wanted to serve his country and see the world.

Now, Stephens says, he is doing just that, as one of several dozen Edwards airmen deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

``I'm proud to be here and proud to serve my country,'' Stephens said, speaking from a ``forward deployment'' military base - a location the Air Force requested not be disclosed because of the sensitivity of the host nation.

Stephens is a member of a group of airmen from Edwards' 95th Security Force sent overseas to support the war effort. The Edwards airmen are guarding aircraft that are flying combat missions over Iraq, manning observation posts, and are part of a quick response team that will handle any threat to the base.

There was one incident at the base in which a handful of anti-war protesters were arrested after entering the base.

``They have the freedom to express themselves - as long as it is peaceful,'' Stephens said of peace demonstrators.

Stephens said he was not aware of the rallies in Lancaster and Rosamond this past weekend in support of the U.S. troops.

``This is the first I'm hearing of it. It makes me feel great,'' Stephens said.

The Edwards airmen occasionally greet the returning combat air crews, but Stephens said he had not had a chance to talk to any of them to see how their missions have gone. Like most people, Stephens is getting his war news from television and the newspapers.

``For the most part, the president and the higher headquarters are doing an excellent job,'' Stephens said. ``I feel things are going well.''

Stephens is from Harvey, Ill., a town near Chicago. He joined the Air Force four years ago and has been at Edwards for three of those years.

At the time he joined the Air Force, Stephens said, he wasn't ready for college and wanted to do something productive.

``No. 1, I wanted to support my country,'' Stephens said. ``I also wanted to travel and see the world.''

Stephens said he and his fellow Edwards airmen appreciated the support being shown by the people back in the United States.

``It means a lot to us,'' Stephens said. ``Keep praying for us and we'll do our part over here.''

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(color AV edition only) Johnathan Stephens, security policeman at Edwards Air Force Base, is currently at an undisclosed overseas air base, where he and fellow EAFB forces are guarding aircraft that fly missions over Iraq.