By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
October 4, 2008
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, VALDOSTA GA (WALB) - 200 hundred airmen from Moody Air Force Base are back on American soil after being deployed to Iraq.
These final moments before they arrive must have seemed like an eternity for those waiting to see family and friends returning from Iraq.
"He left and the baby was born two weeks later,"said Maritza Hicks, Wife of Airman.
Maritza wasn't the only one with a newborn.
"I was pregnant when he left I was about 3 months pregnant when he left with my son Julian who is 18 days old today actually," Rebecca Meadows, Wife of Airmen.
Soon after the marched up, the squadron broke formation and instinctively caught the eye of family members they haven't seen since March.
Richard Hicks II on seeing his little boy for the first time.
"It's great it's great, he didn't want to come out until I left though," said Richard Hicks II, 822nd Security Forces Squadron.
Brothers Anthony and Chad Meadows are glad to be back home.
Anthony is got to see his baby boy for the first time.
"It gets a little difficult every time you leave but then it gets a little better every time you come home too," Anthony Meadows, 822nd Security Forces Squadron.
For Anthony's last homecoming his daughter was only 3-months-old, now he is seeing her walk for the first time.
These men say they understand what they're fighting for takes it's toll.
"We understand it has a big effect, but it's just one of those things we just don't talk about," said Anthony Meadows.
"It's tough you've got your family supporting you everything will be all right" said Richard Hicks.
But for now their fight against terror is on hold.
"I'm suppose to say I want to go to Disney world, but I'll settle for seeing my daughter, that's better than Disney world to me," said Chad Meadows, 822nd Security Forces Squadron.
Most of them say the just miss normal everyday civilian life.
Officials at Moody can't say exactly where they were deployed, only that they served at the Central Command Area of Responsibility overseas.
Feedback
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
