Returning warriors welcomed home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The warm Italian sun danced off of balloons and hand-painted welcome home signs as family members and friends eagerly awaited their returning warriors during Operation Welcome Home Oct. 9 on the flightline. 

Tired from the long 24-hour flight trek home to Italy, the morning arrival signaled an end to the more than 230 Airmen's four-month deployment to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. 

"Operation Welcome Home is designed to help reintegrate our Airmen and it serves as a central point for families and friends to welcome them home," said Capt. Hardy Giles, OWH project officer. "This is our way as a fighter wing to show much we appreciate what they did and how much we care about them."
 
The deployment consisted of Airmen ranging from maintainers to pilots. No matter what duties the Airmen performed during their deployment, the awaiting family members were eager to get their spouses back home. 

"This means so much to us and I am so proud of my husband," said Rachel Modgling, wife of Staff Sgt. Matthew Modgling, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
 
Mrs. Modgling has five children ranging in age from seven months to 10 years, including two six-year-old twins.
 
"We tried to stay busy as best we could," she said while rocking her new baby. "Movie night, spouses' programs and various church functions really helped us pass the time." 

The 31st Fighter Wing vice commander praised the returning heroes. 

"This is a great day for these Airmen and their families," said Col. Monty Brock, 31st FW vice commander. "Their deployment was not the most glamorous, but they were key in helping stabilize the Korean peninsula. They should be very proud of what they have done." 

The squadron's mission in South Korea marked the first time a Europe-based unit deployed to the Pacific as part of an Air and Space Expeditionary Force deployment.