Stephen and Adilene Ellis kiss after seeing each other for the first time in eight months. Stephen Ellis celebrated Wednesday — his birthday — along with 130 other airmen who returned to Nellis Air Force Base after an eight-month deployment in Iraq. The couple married not long before the deployment and say they are planning a “proper wedding” this summer.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 6:06 p.m.
Map of Nellis AFB
Family and friends gave 130 U.S. airmen a hero's welcome Wednesday at Nellis Air Force Base after their return from spending eight months providing security in Iraq.
The airmen are with the 99th Security Forces Group stationed at Nellis. They left in late August to provide law enforcement and convoy security at a joint forces base in Balad, a city approximately 60 miles north of Baghdad.
"Any time you can welcome young men and women home who did a great job for their nation, it's the best part of my week. It's the best part of my month. This is the best part of my year," said Lt. Col. Tim Farrell, commander of the 99th Security Forces Group.
Although the airmen come from all over the country, for Staff Sgt. Bill Gaines, it was a true homecoming.
Gaines graduated from Bonanza High School in 1999 and his parents, Cornelius and Rosie Gaines, and in-laws, Keith and Kim Crandall, still live in the area.
After sharing hugs and kisses and posing for pictures, Gaines took the hands of his 5-year-old daughter Tenaya and his 3-year-old son Isaiah and walked across the tarmac.
"It's good to be home," Gaines said.
Among the four parents, two retired from the Air Force and one is still active in the service.
Rosie Gaines said she was happy her son was home and that the family was close by to provide support to her daughter in-law, Desiree, while he was gone.
"It made it easier for her to get away when she needed to and just help with the kids," she said.
The families left behind feel the void in the missed conversations, holidays and everyday moments.
Senior Airman O.K. Hubble held his daughter Rory, who was one week old when he left for Iraq.
Upon seeing her today his first thought was, "she's huge," he said.
Hubble's wife, Amber, said she was happy he was home partly to help take care of their daughter.
"There were sleepless nights," she said. "Now it's daddy's duty."
The absence doesn't get easier to deal with even after multiple deployments, said Tracy Jones, whose husband Tech. Sgt. Douglas Jones returned from his third deployment in three years.
"I'd just like to hear he's done," she said.
Jones' young son Avery made a sign that included a rainbow drawing symbolizing his joy that his father was coming home. A crack running through the middle of the rainbow represented the time they missed, Avery said.
Candace Wallace talked with her husband, Airman 1st Class Edward Wallace, once a week by phone and every few days through instant messaging.
He never talked about his mission so most of the conversations were about their 9-month-old daughter who he barely knew before he deployed.
"I'm excited for their relationship to start forming," Candace Wallace said.
Reenea Hernandez held several balloons while waiting for her husband, Senior Airman Angel Hernandez, who returned from his first deployment.
She said a friend helped keep her busy, sometimes going to the gym to keep her mind off the loneliness.
She also decorated the house for his return.
"I'm just happy to see him on a day-to-day basis," Hernandez said.
Airman 1st Class Alan Meno said that stepping off the plane at Nellis was the first time he felt like he was home.
"My boots were shaking and ready to run," he said.
Upon seeing his family ready to greet him, Meno was overcome with emotion.
"It's too much to explain," he said.
CORRECTION: This story was updated to clarify the service records of Cornelius Gaines’ family members.
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