The 116th unit comes home - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

The 116th unit comes home

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May 2, 2003

Robins Air Force Base- Hug, kisses and warm embraces at Robins Air Force Base as members of the 116th Air Control Wing came home.

Dorene McElwain and her children almost couldn't stand the excitement as her husband, Major Darryl McElwain's plane arrived. When McElwain and his fellow airmen walked off the plane, his family's wishes came true.

After a few embraces, Major McElwain received the kiss he's missed for the last four months. McElwain says he's proud his mission is completed, and now he has one main goal.

He adds, "I just want to leave and get off the base and go home." Nikki Smith and her newly born son, Jett, rushed to greet the man in their lives, Second Lt. Eric Smith.

Nikki says, " I didn't think he would be home so soon." This is the first time Eric has seen son. Eric Smith adds, "It's been tough, but it's probably been tougher on them."

All of these families say they have something to grateful for the ones close to their hearts stepped in harm's way and lived to experience a homecoming they will never forget.

The 116th Air Control Wing maintained aircraft used in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They also used high tech radar systems to guide ground troops as they pushed forward during the war.

Posted at 10:00PM by Jocelyn.Maner@walb.com