DAVIS COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — On Sunday, nearly 300 airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings returned to Utah after being deployed in Japan for almost five months.
Hundreds of family members, friends and loved ones were at Hill Air Force Base, welcoming the airmen home with open arms after a morning of anticipation.
Cori Carey was one of many wives waiting at Hill AFB to welcome her husband back.
“I’m nervous, but excited all at the same time,” Carey told ABC4.com. “It’s been nerve-racking, having him gone and having the three kids at home and trying to maintain life without him.”
Carey said her husband missed their son’s first Christmas and his first birthday, but she is interested to see how her husband will react to how much their son has grown after coming home.
“It’s gonna be nice to have him home and be a family again,” Carey said.
Allyson Kinder was also at Hill Air Force Base to welcome her husband home.
“It’s very scary,” Allyson Kinder said. “I’m anxious constantly, but I think it really strengthens our relationship — just having that distance, that 16-hour time difference trying to make it work and communicating.”
United States Air Force Deputy Commander Col. James Buessing said the airmen spent time at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, and had been there since November.
“They worked with our partners and allies, mostly to deter any kind of instability that could happen in the Pacific region,” Buessing said.
Buessing shared about his own experience with combat deployment and acknowledged the high amount of anticipation from both family members and military members.
“Definitely no sleep the night before, anxiously cleaning the house, making sure everything is good to go,” Kinder said.
While awaiting their return at Hill AFB, some families found out about the return sooner than others — for Carey, she said found out about her husband’s return the week it happened.
“He kept it a secret until just a couple days ago,” Carey said.
On that windy Sunday, friends and family were standing in line and holding signs as the time ticked by, the wheels touched down and the reunions could begin.
Families got to experience the long-awaited hug and kiss that they said was well worth the 149 days.
Returning airmen said that returning felt surreal, some said it brought relief and others said it felt great to be with their families once again.
“It’s an awesome opportunity just to see all the families and friends that come back to an open our airmen with open arms,” Buessing said.
