Deployed Airman Return home to Sioux City

Sioux City, Iowa -- Thirteen Security Forces members of the Iowa National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing located in Sioux City, Iowa returned home today from a six month deployment to Southwest Asia. During their deployment the Sioux City Airmen joined guard members from Des Moines, Iowa's 132nd Fighter Wing and guardsmen from South Dakota, Alaska and Oklahoma. During the deployment all the airmen were directly responsible for base defense.

This morning, on the last leg of their trip, leaving from Baltimore, Maryland the group of airmen was greeted by some familiar faces as pilots from the 185th Air Refueling Wing picked them up in a jet from Sioux City for the flight home.

Family members were waiting patiently in the main hanger as the airman deplaned and were greeted first by the 185th Wing Leadership then they made their way to their spouses, children and others who have they have not seen since April.

According to Master Sgt. Mike Loghry all the airmen who deployed with the team in April returned home safely with him today. For many of them this was not the first time they have been away from home "for several members of the team this is their second or third deployment" said Loghry.

The security forces airman are a mix of traditional guardsmen who will return to their civilian jobs and others are full time technicians at the 185th who will return to their jobs at the Sioux City airbase.