Green Country Soldiers Return Home Just In Time For Thanksgiving

A group of soldiers who didn't think they'd see their families this Thanksgiving is back on the home front. A huge crowd welcomed Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Monday at the Tulsa International Airport.

Their families thought the soldiers' leave was going to be cancelled, but the papers came through at the last minute.

All of the military families at TIA were on pins and needles waiting to welcome home their soldier fathers and sons.

"Everything has been smooth until he's four hours away in Dallas," said Sheri Dent, military wife.

And it's the last leg of the multi-day journey from Afghanistan that's really working Sheri Dent's nerves. But at one point, she didn't think she'd get to see her soldier husband Sergeant Chris Dent at all this Thanksgiving.

"They were going to cancel their leave, and he was the going to be the one who was going to miss the deadline to come home. And then bam! In one day he called me and said ‘I'm getting leave,'" she said.

Sheri Dent is kind of used to the emotional roller coaster. In 2007 and 2008, her husband was in Iraq and the family only got to see him via Skype. But Sheri says this mission is harder, more dangerous, plus her little girl isn't so little anymore.

"This deployment has been ten times worse on her because she understands more. She hears things on the news too. It's been harder in that aspect with the kids," Sheri Dent said.

Lots of daughters and sons were waiting on their soldier dads, including one not even born yet. Amanda Littleton is nine months pregnant.

"I'm due in a few days but, it definitely can change," Amanda said.

Call it the stress of waiting, or an impatient little one, but while the arrivals board refused to budge, Amanda started clocking contractions. With an eye to the gate, this first-time mom says she wasn't going anywhere.

"No, nope, we're trying to wait for him to get there. He just needs to hurry up," she said.

Not too long after the first camo was spotted, the soldier husband and now father rushed over for a hug and a kiss. Only to find out he needed to rush right back out.

"Just found out we're trying to take her to the hospital right now," he said.

The Littleton's took off pretty fast, so we're not sure if they had the baby or not. But they were very excited. And so were dozens of other families at the airport.