Baumert Returns Home After Tour In Iraq

Recently Lt Col Jeffrey A. Baumert returned home from serving a six-month tour in Iraq.

Col Baumert is the commanding officer of VMFA 142, a reserve F-18 Marine fighter squadron base at Dobbins Air Base located in Marietta, Ga.  His unit was activated in January 2005 and was deployed to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq in March.

His reserve unit was the first fighter unit called to active duty and deployed into a war zone since the Korean War.  The unit moved its full complement of support equipment and 12 FA-18 jets to Iraq and successfully flew support missions for six months. On return to Dobbins Air Base in early September, members were greeted by hundreds of friends and relatives.

The unit incurred no accidents or causalities and was successful in safely returning all of the personnel and aircraft to Georgia. The unit will be deactivated in January, at which time the reservists will return to their civilian jobs.

Col Baumert will return to his job as a pilot for Delta Airlines.  He flies 767-400 aircraft on Delta’s international routes. In addition, he is a partner in a financial advisor company serving clients in the Atlanta area.

Col Baumert served with the Marines for 11 years on activity duty and nine years in the reserves.  He is a 1982 graduate of Newtown High School and is married to Kim Kaufman, a 1983 graduate of Newtown High School. They reside in Acworth, Ga., with their three daughters.

Jeff is the son of Duane and Dot Baumert, former residents of Newtown and now residing in Rarity Bay in Vonore, Tenn.  Kim is the daughter of Pat and Al Kaufman.