22 Yokota airmen return from Iraq

[unhappycamper]

22 Yokota airmen return from Iraq
By Bryce S. Dubee, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, February 6, 2009

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — There was no Thanksgiving, no Christmas and no New Year’s — at least not with their families.

Twenty-two airmen returned home to Yokota on Wednesday evening after four months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The returning airmen, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron and the 374th Maintenance Group, were scheduled to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Most family members were optimistic about the arrival time and had filled the 36th’s Heritage Room by 4:15 p.m.

As time passed, news trickled in — from "the plane has landed" to "they’ve cleared customs." Finally, after one last delay when the plane had to be towed across the flight line to avoid stirring up ash from Mount Asama’s recent eruption, the moment arrived.

"This is awesome," said Airman 1st Class Justin Cox, returning from his first deployment. "It’s good to be finally home."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60505