Airmen return home from Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mark Hybers
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing, Public Affairs
Fifty one members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing returned home from a deployment to Southwest Asia on Sunday March 17, 2013.

The returning members make up about one third of the total number deployed on Jan. 7. They come back after supporting a broad spectrum of air refueling missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The cold, windy, cloudy day didn't keep family members, some sporting green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, from coming out and waiting on their loved ones as planes flew in all afternoon.

For some families, this deployment marks the first separation from their spouse or children.

"It's really great to see him and it's great to see this reunion with the kids," said Capt. Adam Steichen's wife.  "This was the first deployment for our youngest daughter. She's daddy's little girl."

This deployment is also the first separation for Tech. Sgt. Shaun Erickson and his children.

"We talked about it a lot at home," Erickson's wife said. "There were a lot of tough days during the time Shaun was gone, but we managed."

Erickson, a member of the 507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron didn't know he was not going straight home after a long, hard deployment.

"We are going to get ice cream at Orange Leaf," one of his children shouted out as they walked away.

The remaining 80 plus 507th members remain in place carrying out the refueling mission.