AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates -- An Augusta, Ga. native, now an Airman deployed to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, celebrated the holidays and her birthday with a couple of familiar faces.
When Airman 1st Class Paris Mayo was initially tasked to deploy for her first tour overseas, she had no idea it would be in the same location as her grandparents, who were already deployed as contractors.
The 380th Expeditionary Communications Squadron client support technician, immediately called her grandmother, Kelly Robinson, 380th ECS network administrator, after she received her notification to deploy.
“At the time, I had no idea where Al Dhafra Air Base was located,” said Mayo.
Once her grandmother knew she would be assigned to ADAB, she was excited to share the news with her husband and Mayo’s grandfather, Areon Robinson, the 380th AEW chief of information protection.
Anthony Mayo, Mayo’s father, a contractor who is currently deployed to the 455th AEW at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, expressed his excitement about his daughter’s first deployment during a Skype phone call.
This would be the first time three generations of Mayo’s would be serving in support of current military operations in the Middle East at the same time.
“Finding out my daughter was about to deploy to the same location as her grandparents, I knew she would be in good hands,” said Anthony.
Anthony also emphasized how proud he was of his daughter for wanting to serve her country.
“We're a family that supports and believes in our military,” said Areon. “We do this not only for ourselves, but for all the service members who sacrifice their lives. Without them, where would we be?”
Airman Mayo has been able to celebrate her birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with her grandparents here, which helps make up for a number of holidays and birthdays they’ve spent apart.
The Mayo and Robertson family have spent more than 50 combined years serving overseas.
“Her grandfather and I have spent many years overseas in support of the warfighter, and have missed several special occasions with her,” said Robinson. “These memories together are going to be extra special.”
“My family has been in the Middle East practically my whole life,” Mayo said. “Being able to deploy and experience the things they have, makes me appreciate all the sacrifices they've made a little more.”