Security forces squadron members return home

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Charlie Miller
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- --  Thirteen members of the 47th Security Forces Squadron returned home from Iraq on St. Patrick's day from a nearly eight-month long deployment. 

The Airmen were greeted by jubilant family members, banners, balloons, flowers and almost every member of the SFS. 

"It's good, real good, to be back," said Airman Council Jones, as he hugged his two young daughters. "It was a long eight months, especially for these two; they missed their dad." 

Airman Jones' daughters, Zykerria, 6, and Sanya, 2, hopped up and down while waving American flags as they watched the bus carrying their father and the other Airmen pull through the flag-lined entrance at SFS. His wife, Angela, held a huge bouquet of multi-colored balloons. The bus was escorted by a Laughlin Fire Department fire truck and several SFS vehicles, all with sirens blaring and lights flashing, proudly announcing the return of the Airmen. 

"The Security Forces family is reunited," said Maj. Kris Zhea, 47th SFS commander. "It's also good to have them back. It's like a family reunion but it's bittersweet as 20 of the Airmen will leave in eight weeks for a deployment." 

Airman Jones said the duty there was fairly hard, but very satisfying. 

"It was one-of-a-kind duty," the Airman said. "It was very successful and enlightening. It is just different dealing with people from a different culture that, sometimes, don't have a kind view of the United States." 

Miranda Huepers, wife of Airman 1st Class Chris Huepers, said she was able to talk to her husband everyday and that kept her going during her husbands deployment. 

"The deployment was pretty hard at the beginning but being able to talk to my husband for about 30 minutes a day was wonderful," said Mrs. Huepers. 

When Major Zhea took command last year he was still getting to know some of the Airmen that deployed. 

"I'd only known some of them for a few weeks or months when they deployed," said the major. "Now it's like I'm meeting them again for the first time."