HE'S HOME!!!!!!

Well, everyone, yesterday around 3:15 PM Bryan's plane touched down at Dyess. I promised him I wasn't going to cry. I lied. HeHeHe. He was okay with it, though. There was an article in our local newspaper today. You may have received it already via e-mail, but if you haven't seen it, here it is:

300 airmen from the 317th Airlift Group return to Dyess AFB

By Charles G. Anderson Sr.
Special to the Reporter-News
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The 300 airmen of the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess Air Force Base may have been tired from their flights home Wednesday from as far away as Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa, but it didn't show.

There were cheers, signs, hugs, kisses, candy and flowers for them as they made their way to the crowd estimated at well over 200. The West Texas sun bore down on the flight line at the base, making it more than 100 degrees -- much like the heat they had left in Southwest Asia 48 hours earlier.

The men and women had been deployed for four months in support of the war on terror.

During their deployment, some members of the 317th were chosen to fly the plane that shuttled Sen. John McCain around as he visited the area earlier in the year.

Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Andrew McIntyre, a C-130 pilot, said the returning airmen had all left home together. The C-130 crews and support staff were stationed throughout the war zone to ferry supplies and troops where needed.

"We flew over 4,000 sorties," he said.

McIntyre said the temperature was over 100 degrees in the region when they left.

Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez, medical staff, had his wife, Maria, and sons Daniel, 9, and Ariel, 7, waiting for him. Daniel wants his daddy to play video games with him now that he's home.

One couple, Capts. Michael and Breezy Heddinger, did not have to wait for a greeting. They came home together. Michael Heddinger is a C-130 pilot who flew several missions.

There were many accomplishments made by the men and women during their deployment, according to a news release, including a trophy won by a 317th Airlift Group squadron. The 39th Airlift Squadron won the Lt. Gen. Joseph Smith trophy

Reporter-News photo by

Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes while he was gone. If you're still looking for someone to pray for and wish well, little Maddy seems to be doing well, but I'm sure that none would hurt!!!