403rd, 815th Reservists Return From Deployment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kimberly Erickson
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Three groups of Reservists from the 403rd Wing and the 815th Airlift Squadron "Flying Jennies" were welcomed home Jan. 17-19 from their deployment to Southwest Asia by friends and family.

The Jan. 18 group of Reservists arrived at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in a three-ship, elephant walk formation, greeted by a large crowd of anxious friends and family. One after another, the three C-130J-30s landed on the airstrip, taxiing with Citizen Airmen waving the American flag proudly from atop the aircraft.

Spouses of the deployed Citizen Airmen coped with running their households alone in various ways.  For Heidi Levesque, wife of Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Levesque, 403rd Wing maintenance squadron, staying busy and keeping in touch with friends helped.

"My best friend's husband was deployed at the same time, so we spent a lot of time together," Ms. Levesque said. "I started fixing up the house, worked and traveling a lot for work."

For Maj. Noberta Patterson, 403rd Operations Group executive officer and wife of Senior Master Sgt. James Patterson, her children and parents helped her the most.

"I don't know why, but this has been the toughest (on us) of all his deployments," Major Patterson said. "I'm very happy that he's going to be home."

Some families traveled great distances to greet their loved ones, such as Lt. Col. Keith Innes' family, whose wife Christine Dooley and children flew from Alaska to surprise him Jan. 17. The family planned to meet in Orlando for a vacation, but decided to drive to Biloxi, Miss. to surprise Colonel Innes early.

"It was an eight hour drive from Orlando," Ms. Dooley said while waiting for her husband to arrive. "He has no idea. I'm really excited and really nervous. We just can't wait to see him."

It was a tearful reunion as 403rd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter Master Sgt. Kermit Watson met his daughter Nylah Grace Watson for the first time on Jan. 17. Nylah was born Jan. 4 while Sergeant Watson was deployed.

Shantel Wilder, Sergeant Watson's fiancée and Nylah's mother, said she was anxious for his return.

"It's been hard, a lot of late nights by myself," Ms. Wilder said. "I'm excited for him to come home and help!"

The 403rd Wing's Key Family Member Program provided support to deployed Reservists families.  In addition to making periodic morale calls, they also fielded calls from families needing help with domestic issues ranging from broken water heaters to lawn maintenance.

"Some families are in Mississippi, Alabama or Florida," said KFMP volunteer Mary Marr Beckman.

"We call the families that are left here to see if they need anything," said Ms. Beckman, who is also part of the 403rd Wing honorary commanders program, which partners her with her military counterpart.  "I feel like the military gives to us all the time and it's our turn to give back to them."

Chaplain (Maj.) Pat Thompson of the 403rd Wing, organized another family-oriented support function, the Yellow Ribbon Program, during the  deployment.

For the Jan. 17 homecoming, Chaplain Thompson said the Yellow Ribbon Program's goal was to help refocus the returning Reservists' warrior mindset to a civilian frame of mind.

In March, families and Reservists will have an opportunity to discuss their reintegration over two days of workshops and small group discussions in a post deployment event, he said.

While the details of the event are still in progress, "We're ensuring there's a celebration for the troops and their families when they come home," Chaplain Thompson said.

"Everyone picked up and did a tremendous job. (We're happy) that they get to be reunited with their families, that they're safe and that we're all back together as one wing."