Senior Airman Mattison Johnson, 21st Security Forces Squadron, embraces his wife at the Colorado Springs Airport Feb. 12 after returning from a deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. Airman Mattison returned to Peterson with 10 other 21st SFS Airmen. The Airmen, deployed for six months, supported Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting in-lieu-of Army taskings, including detainee operations, off-base patrols and improvised-explosive device defense. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

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Airman 1st Class Miranda Catcher, 21st Security Forces Squadron, hugs her mother Sandra Kester at the Colorado Springs Airport Feb. 12 after returning from a deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. Airman Catcher returned to Peterson with 10 other 21st SFS Airmen. The Airmen, deployed for six months, supported Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting in-lieu-of Army taskings, including detainee operations, off-base patrols and improvised-explosive device defense. Mrs. Kester traveled with her family from Stillwell, Okla., to see her daughter Airman Catcher return. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

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Airman 1st Class Michael Workmen, 21st Security Forces Squadron, embraces his mother Susan at the Colorado Springs Airport Feb. 12 after returning from a deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. Airman Workmen, a native of La Junta, Colo., returned to Peterson with 10 other 21st SFS Airmen. The Airmen, deployed for six months, supported Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting in-lieu-of Army taskings, including detainee operations, off-base patrols and improvised-explosive device defense. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

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11 Peterson Airmen return home from Iraq

Published Feb. 12, 2008
By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Eleven Airmen assigned to the 21st Security Forces Squadron returned home from Iraq Feb. 12 after spending six months supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The wait at Colorado Springs' airport was small compared to the 179-day deployment, still friends and loved ones agonized through each minute as they peered past travelers seeking the first glimpse of the returning Airmen.

"My stomach is all in knots, but I'm not going to cry because she doesn't want me to," said Sandra Kester, mother of Airman 1st Class Miranda Catcher. "I hated her being away for so long. You never knew if you were going to get a phone call. I hated it."

Leadership from both the 21st SFS and the 21st Space Wing were on hand to give the Airmen a proper return.

Tech. Sgt. Sean Kelly, 21st SFS unit deployment manager, processed each of the Airmen for deployment almost nine months ago. Seeing each of the Airmen return home safely meant a lot to the men and women of the home unit, said the NCO.

"Unlike most (Air Expeditionary Force) missions, these 11 were charged with conducting some very intense and dangerous operations," Sergeant Kelly said. "This meant dealing direct with some of Iraq's most dangerous thugs, thieves and fanatical terrorists. It means a great deal to all of the security forces community. I think more should be made of these folks, but these folks will never allow that - they will tell you they were just doing their jobs."

Trailing behind some of her fellow returnees, Airman Catcher emerged from the terminal and hugged her mother, sister and cousin. The trio of relatives traveled 13 hours from Stillwell, Okla., to see her return.

"I'm glad to be home," Airman Catcher said. "I'm relieved. This is a big weight off my shoulders to be back. I'm looking forward to a little relaxation."