Utah Air National Guardmembers Return from Middle East Deployment

By Senior Airman Lillian Harnden

SALT LAKE CITY – Family members welcomed home 14 members of the 130^th Engineering Installation Squadron as they returned to Salt Lake International Airport Oct. 21 from deployment overseas.

Returning Guardmembers served a six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom throughout several Middle East countries including Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Danielle Herrscher, wife of returning Airman1^st Lt. Brian Herrscher, described how she felt when she saw her husband coming down the stairs.

“I couldn’t get to him fast enough,” she said. “I kind of wanted to bulldoze everyone over, grab him, give him a hug and a kiss and let the kids get ahold of him, too. I’m really excited and happy to have him back with our family.”



First Lt. Brian Herrscher, right, is welcomed home from
deployment to the Middle East Oct. 21 by his young daughter.
(U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Giacoletto-Stegall)

“Feels great being back home; there’s so much support here,” said Brian Herrscher after hugging his wife, kids, parents and extended family members. “The deployment was great, too, and very eye-opening. We live in such a great country. We’re doing good things over there. We’re helping people out, so it’s definitely worthwhile. It’s a sacrifice, but I feel great that I can at least do my part, help out and try to make a difference.”

John and Janene Class, parents of two Utah Air National Guardmembers (returning son Staff Sgt. Lamont Class and deployed son Airman 1^st Class Corbin Class scheduled to return in a few weeks), described their family’s pride and sacrifice.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our sons,” said Janene.

“The Guard has given both the boys a good direction,” said John.

“It’s been hard on the kids, because they are so young they don’t understand,” added Janene.

“It’s been hard on Grandpa,” said John as Janene laughed. “We’ve been helping Lamont’s wife Jill: fixing cars, working on the house, and driving back and forth between houses. We can do what we can, but we can’t take his place.”

One of the onlookers swept up into the commotion at the baggage-claim area of the terminal was David Norton, a Highland resident returning from a business trip. Norton stated he wanted to stay for the Guardsmen’s arrival because homecomings had special meaning for him after welcoming his Texan brother-in-law home last week. He witnessed his sister’s sacrifice firsthand and helped her when he could with caring for her two kids, one with special needs.

“I have a deep, newfound respect for the amazing sacrifice of military members,” said Norton. “The spouses and kids too are beyond hero status in my book. Homecomings are what America is all about.”



Major Gen. Jeff Burton, left, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, and Brig. Gen.
Kenneth Gammon, center, greet 1st Lt. Brian Herrscher Oct. 21 following his return
 from deployment. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Giacoletto-Stegall)

Also among the crowd of family members and onlookers who greeted the returning Guardmembers were Utah’s Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell; Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton; commander of the Utah Air Guard’s 151^st Air Refueling Wing, Col. Samuel Ramsay; and commander of the 130^th Engineer Installation Squadron, Lt. Col. Kevin Tobias.

“It’s good to get them back,” said Ramsay. “Once they get over there they split them up and send them to different countries, but it’s great to get them all back together in one big team.”

Tobias explained the nature of their deployment mission and bragged about some of their accomplishments.

“Their job was building infrastructure so the warfighter can communicate,” said Tobias. “These guys were amazing. They built a 170-foot radio tower at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, but they had to use a helicopter to do it because the crane wasn’t tall enough.”

Tobias also thanked returning Guardmembers and their families for their sacrifice, stating that one Airman had to leave behind an 11-day-old baby, and another Airman had a baby arrive one week after he left.