138th Fighter Wing Returns From Iraq

Saturday, August 18th 2007, 2:33 pm

By: News On 6

Hundreds of Oklahoma Airmen were deployed to Iraq to help run interference for troops on the ground. The 138th Fighter Wing was sent to patrol the country's "no-fly-zone." The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage was the only TV reporter there when the group made it back to the homefront. He reports it was the roar of the jet the crowd was waiting to hear and the frontlines Airmen were fighting to see.

As the jet taxied on the tarmac, flash bulbs became beacons, and family waved the plane in with American flags. Signs help point tired troops to their exhausted families. Everyone's got a trick to spot their Airman.

"How'd you tell them apart when they all look the same?" asked News On 6 reporter Joshua Brakhage.

"His glasses,â€ said Heidi Harlan.

"He's got a red suitcase,â€ said 7-year-old Holly Smith.

"He's short and bald,â€ said Dianah Hale.

With 240 Airmen back home and 240 reunions, there are 240 stories of firsts and lasts.

After 37 years, Chief Master Sergeant Bobby Hale has flown his final mission.

"And you know, whenever you've been waiting this long and this is his last trip, I've been waiting for this day for a long time,â€ said Sgt. Bobby Haleâ€™s wife Dianah Hale.

Tech Sergeant Todd Smith missed his three daughters' first day back to school.

Married in the military for 10 years, Sergeants Steve and Johnna Troglin are returning from the couple's first deployment together at the base in Balad, nicknamed "Mortaritaville", for the frequent insurgent attacks. They could only see each other for an hour a day.

"It was the one thing I looked forward to the whole 12-hour shift. I would get off and run to my pod with all my IVA gear and just hurry to meet him, and we would go have midnight chow. That was our little meal together. And that was the best time of the whole day,â€ said Sgt. Johnna Troglin.

The two say it was easier to both be in Iraq, then neither one is left alone at home. What they did leave behind was Southern Hills.

"Oh, anything PGA Tour, when you mentioned the tour, you just about made me cry,â€ said Sgt. Johnna Troglin.

"We actually sporadically went to the rec center in Balad and was actually watching Tiger get the three stroke lead,â€ Sgt. Steve Troglin said.

Little hands were told to hold tight while they stayed up past bedtime for their reunions.

All ages agree, e-mail and phone calls are no substitute for the hugs and kisses they've missed for months.

"What did you miss the most about Dad being gone?" asked News On 6 reporter Joshua Brakhage.

"His hugs that he gave me every night,â€ said Shelby Harlan.

Ten-year-old Harlan isn't the only one who will sleep more soundly with their family in uniform finally home safe.

The Troglins may have missed Tiger's victory, but they didnâ€™t go home empty handed. Their family picked up PGA souvenirs and gave them to the Troglins once they made it back.

Watch the video: Oklahoma Airmen Back From Iraq

Related Story:

6/27/2007 138th Fighter Wing Headed To Iraq