OCR Text |
Show Qqd-- ALCPA n HA AF3, UT 84056 JL comut nwf Tt:ic r"1 lOGfma cotw r--1 1 n Welcome Heme ' Vol. 45 No. 12 B Hill AFB, Utoh B March 29, tJf ..Sr 00 191 mmm Third Class ALCPA Hill AFB, UT 84056 5990 Serials Order Department University of Utah Libraries Salt Lake City, UT 84112 : f ' kT'- - j; rr V .......- T I . ft J ' '- -a v 1 A i. ' i- - v ' ' A v A 3 .... -- y ' - . - At f , 4 - J v ... U.S. Air force Photo by SSgt. Robert Horgreov'es New beginnings Easter, a time of new beginnings, provides a perfect backdrop for SSgt. David Stone, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, as he cuddles for the first time his son, Matthew, 3 months. Sergeant Stone arrived home to Hill AFB last week from the Middle East, where he was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. (oy(o(dlrifi) (ir&w(ss WoQQ Inl (S T(yjn)DIn)g U by Debbie Christiansen Hilltop Times staff writer The flight line in front of Hill AFB's Hangar 37 was again the site of joyful reunions as members of the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron were welcomed home from Operation Desert Storm last Friday. Family and friends cheered, flags and banners waved as returning pilots, part of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, flew their 6 Fighting Falcons overhead, landed and taxied around to their parking spots. As engines were shut down and the pilots emerged, family and friends surged forward for welcome-hom- e hugs, handshakes and tears. "Hi, Mom," were the first words from Capt. William Perry as his family greeted him after his seven months in the Persian Gulf. His mother, Jackie, who traveled from Wyoming for the reunion with other family members, found it difficult to speak past the fars and emotion that choked her voice. "It's been a long seven months... I worried, worried, worried," she said. Her son said there were times after he'd flown a sortie that he thought, "I really got lucky on that last mission. I sure hope my luck holds up." Captain Perry's father, Bill, said his son will be honored with a special ceremony in their hometown of Buffalo, Wyo. "The mayor will be there, there will be a band, school will be out," Mr. Perry said. F-1- IW tome "ff 5 LnULD e His son appeared surprised at the news and said, "I'll be a hero in their minds anyway." He admitted that he doesn't feel a whole lot different. "Maybe a little wiser in some ways." Capt. Ed Christian's friends welcomed him home and then, in almost the same breath, kidded him about his new moustache. In a more serious moment, Captain Christian said there was a certain amount of fear involved with each mission and there were times he was afraid for his life, but with each mission he became more accustomed to it. "The biggest thing was the fear of the unknown," he said. Utah's governor, Norman Bangerter, was among those welcoming the pilots home and told Captain Christian, "Let's hope you don't have to do it again." Hilltop celebrates base's excitement Excitement pervades all of Hill AFB. Emotions are soaring this Easter-time- , and more than just spring lies at the root of the celebration. The largest homecoming of Hill military personnel on record is in full swing. To commemorate the magnitude of events in recent weeks and months, the Hilltop Times has a special look and feel this week. This issue is dedicated to Hill's support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It is dedicated to the returning men and women and to those still supporting throughout the world. It also honors the thousands of support personnel, families and friends who stayed behind to carry on their important jobs as well. The second section of this issue is a pictorial salute to Hill workers. It provides a retrospective of the deployment, the support efforts that went on in Utah and the on-goin- Though Lt. Col. Alan Scott, assistant deputy commander of operations for the 388th TFW, was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, he just missed being sent over there. "It took me 21 years, but I finally got in one (a war)," he said. "I don't ever want to do it again." The colonel said it felt so good coming home he wished he could relive that part of his Desert Storm experience. The return of Hill personnel during the past several weeks means more than 1,000 Hill AFB troops B See Home, Page 2, please. g homecoming celebrations. From those first deployments in August to the homecoming celebrations, base officials say everyone at Hill can be proud of his or her role in our forces' success in the Middle East. While it is timely to celebrate the fact that so many came home in recent weeks, it is important to remember that many American armed service members are still deployed. Not all of our own base's men and women are home yet. We await their speedy return. ill Presidents Qoclity Award Evaluators will assess Hill's progress ain's message, Page 5. |