100th SFS Airmen return home

Jessenia Garcia, 4, waits anxiously with her balloons as she prepares to see her daddy again after eight months. Her dad, Staff Sgt. John Garcia, 100th Security Forces Squadron, was one of 28 Airmen who returned home Feb. 13 after two months training and a six-month deployment in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

100th SFS Airmen return home

Senior Airman William Sprayberry, left, 100th Security Forces Squadron, gazes adoringly at his new baby son, Connor, born Jan. 6, as his fiancee, Airman 1st Class Chelsea Burke, also 100th SFS, looks proudly at them both. This was the very first time Airman Sprayberry saw his newborn son. "I'm kind of speechless right now, just taking it all in," he said. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

100th SFS Airmen return home

Airman 1st Class Melissa Campbell (in uniform) hugs her friend Airman 1st Class Tuwanda Worthy, in an emotional greeting when Airman Worthy returned to RAF Mildenhall Feb. 13 after a six-month deployment to Iraq. The two Airmen came to RAF Mildenhall together from tech. school. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

100th SFS Airmen return home

Staff Sgt. John Garcia, 100th Security Forces Squadron, gives his daughter, Jessenia, 4, kisses and a huge hug when he returned from a deployment Feb. 13. A total of 28 100th SFS troops returned home after being gone for eight months -- two months training in Nevada, followed by a six-month deployment in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

100th SFS welcomes home deployed Airmen

Published Feb. 16, 2010
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Amidst cheers and clapping from family, friends and coworkers, Airmen from the 100th Security Forces Squadron stepped off a bus from Heathrow Feb. 13, late in the afternoon.

A total of 28 troops returned home from Iraq - some in the morning, others in the afternoon - all to the delight of those who welcomed them back.

Banners, balloons and huge smiles greeted them, though for one Airman in particular, the homecoming was a little more emotional than usual.

Senior Airman William Sprayberry, met his baby, Connor, born Jan. 6, for the very first time.

Stepping off the bus, he hugged and kissed his fiancée, Airman 1st Class Chelsea Burke, also 100th SFS, and his face lit up in wonder and amazement as he got to hold his new son in his arms.

The Airman was lost for words.

"I'm kind of speechless right now, just taking it all in," he said.

Megan Russell, 100th Force Support Squadron, was at the meeting point, waiting excitedly for her husband, Staff Sgt. Lonnie Russell, 100th SFS, who has been gone for eight months.

"I'm beyond excited; I've been nauseous for a week," she exclaimed, minutes before the bus rolled up to bring her husband back to her.

In preparation for his return, Mrs. Russell said she'd been getting the house in order.

"I've just been trying to calm myself down," she said. "It's always awkward when they (spouses) come back. You don't want to do all the (screaming) stuff when they're here (immediately when they get off the bus or aircraft), but once we get home we'll get settled, and it will be all better.

"I'm so glad (my husband) is home," she said, grinning from ear to ear as tears of emotion rolled down her face.

Lt. Col. Don Robertson, 100th SFS commander, was out in the rainy, cold weather to welcome home his Airmen, and said he felt Saturday's homecoming was particularly memorable.

"The two squads of defenders were deployed to Joint Base Balad for the last six months; two months prior to deploying, they were sent to training at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., to hone both the kinetic and non-kinetic skills they would need in executing the counter-insurgency and irregular warfare techniques, tactics and procedures they would employ outside the wire in the defense of Balad," he said.

"It was a very long and dangerous deployment for these defenders, but they performed exceedingly well, and we're all very proud to have them home."