Families, friends welcome home deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian Lamar
  • 403rd Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Smiling and anxious faces of the hundreds of people stared intently into the sky as they watched four C-130Js emerge from the horizon and land on the Keesler Air Force Base runway Jan. 20.

Families and friends and dogs ran to their loved ones as the returning Airmen departed the aircraft. The Airmen, who completed a six-month deployment in the Central Command area of operations, are from the 403rd Wing's 345th (Golden Eagles) and 815th (Flying Jennies) Tactical Airlift Squadrons.

"I tried to treat each day like a normal day during the deployment, but I am so excited to see him," said Misti Segura, spouse of Lt. Col. Edward Segura, commander of the 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

"The homecoming was really heartwarming," said Segura, who served as the commander of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. "When you step off that plane and see the big crowd screaming and waving with signs and smiles on their faces, it is touching. When you finally find those one or two people that you are looking for in the crowd, it is a great feeling," he said.

"We are proud of the work our Airmen have done supporting the mission overseas," said Col. Frank L. Amodeo, 403rd Wing commander. "This welcome home event is an opportunity for our wing to thank them and their families for their selfless service to our country."

The welcome home is bittersweet for unit members. Due to the Force Structure Action Implementation Plan announced in 2013, the 815th Airlift Squadron will close later this summer and C-130J aircraft will be transferred from Keesler to another unit. The 345th Airlift Squadron, which is an Active Component association, will also close.