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Show Ogdea ALCPA Hi3 AF3, UT 4056 commit rttcm tkioucm loctyna JpWirtlnw.ii'iMii III &JV n If SPECIAL OULLtU I IONS I f Welcome Home ZJbr 00 ALCPA Hill AFB, UT Third 84056-599- Class 0 Serials Order Department University of Utah Libraries Salt Lake City, UT 841 12 1 f" J .... ) Sweet smile of success Sgt. John A. Kasper of the 4th Tactical : v'" Fighter Squadron, receives an adoring smile, preceded by a hug and a kiss, from his daughter, Janelle, Tuesday on the tarmac near Hill AFB's Hangar 37. , L w II, Kim U.S. Air force Photo by Kolph Uuf by Gary Hatch Hilltop Times editor Tender reunions warmed and brightened a cool, gray day as families began welcoming home large numbers of Hill AFB troops from the Persian Gulf on Tuesday. Wives and children bounced on the balls of their feet, raised homemade signs of welcome and waved flags in excitement and anticipation as a chartered 747 jumbo jet carrying more than 300 airmen taxied up on the tarmac near Hangar 37. Some cried. As the stairs were positioned, the crowd of about 1,000 surged forward. One anxious woman darted out between Brig. Gen. Clark Griffith, Ogden Air Logistics Center vice commander, and Utah Governor Norman Bangerter, brushing the governor aside in the process. The governor good naturedly said that it's nice, for once, not to be so important. A loud cheer went up as the first airman appeared in the open doorway, 1st Lt. Steven M. Fortunato, Det. 8, 1365th Audiovisual Squadron, waving a U.S. flag in one hand and pumping a video camera up and down in the other. A steady stream of airmen descended, their eyes eagerly panning the crowd for some familiar sight as Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." played over the public address system. Long-absewives and husbands found each other and embraced, separated, looked deep into each others' eyes, then embraced again. Children were swept into a returning father's or mother's arms and hugged, later to be hoisted on more prouu tZld fS includes pride of this ta deployed, but united, dedxated a evety m what en W has s orTofOp:tion Desert.SJ h; ethoser-rt7left We couldn sober. -sortie cvw- - menw" ; wd a physical and EaJ T Je taew the success Dy ana wey coroing montns S cost oTsuch met, heart-fel- t " last expio , -j were. who aepwjcThose thanks. ul naUon is every oQprve - - trickle 0f return from the TneftroS heroes, fViA fW not have been Ppsslble,rZs truly a team effort. welcome. 1. . Sincerely, Mai- - Thompson Jr. Gen. Dale W. Tn - nt lobs tney Logis Cen.e, shoulders. Sgt. William James of the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron gently cradled his new baby daughter in his arms for the first time. "She's beautiful, but I had no idea how much until I held her in my arms just now," he said. Most or the families ventured into Hangar 37, bedecked with signs, a float and a replica of ribbon bows made of yellow balloons. "Isn't it great to be an American?" asked Governor Bangerter over the public address system as he 15-foot-t- Doth doployod Couple shares tearful reunion stood at the foot of the float. "I'm proud of you. I'm proud to be here, and I'm proud to be an American. I've been all across the state seeing these reunions and the tears still come as I see them," he said. This scene has been repeated during 15 arrivals from the 4th Tactical this week, including 23 Fighter Squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. Twenty-fou- r jets from the 421st TFS and one from the 4th TFS are expected today. F-1- 6s S aOOOth La Members relate battle experiences TFV7 Nearly 1,000 Hill troops have returned since Tuesday from their deployed location, which is not to be disclosed at the request of the host country. That figure, coupled with those who returned by commercial flights- in earlier weeks, means most deployed Hill members are back. A small number of Hill workers remain deployed. However, the number and their return dates are not known, according to officials at the base mobility center. - Desert Storm War validates military |