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Oklahoma National Guard members return
By JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Published: 11/19/2011 1:59 AM
Last Modified: 11/19/2011 7:59 AM
Shelley Schomburg was sending text messages to her husband, Staff Sgt. Wayne Schomburg, as the charter plane taxied to the Oklahoma Air National Guard base Friday.
It had been nearly two months since she had seen him and just more than two months since they were married.
"I'll knock a few people over to get out," he told her in a text as the airmen pushed the staircase up to the jet to let the more than 100 members of the 138th Fighter Wing deplane to greet relatives and friends who gathered in anxious anticipation.
The Guard members returned Friday to Oklahoma from their two-month deployment in Iraq, marking an end to a decades-long history between Iraq and the fighter wing.
When Shelley Schomburg saw her husband, she started to run his toward him but was stopped by an airman who was keeping people off the Tarmac.
"I just want to jump in his arms and never let go," she said. "Every minute of the day, all you do is think about him."
When he made it to her, they embraced tightly and held each other. Then she told him that she had a surprise for him: Wayne Schomburg's brother, Bill Schomburg, had driven through the night across several states to see Wayne Schomburg return.
Wayne Schomburg saw his older brother and was immediately overcome with tears of joy.
"This is absolutely indescribable," he said later. "Best surprise I've ever had."
Bill Schomburg was still using crutches to get around after falling 35 feet from a tree last year, a fall that broke both his legs and nearly killed him, Wayne Schomburg said.
"It's absolutely a miracle he's here," he said.
Andrew Pranger was looking forward to sharing his 14th birthday dinner with his father, Tech. Sgt. James Pranger.
"It's a very good birthday present," said Andrew's sister, Ashley Pranger. "We're very excited."
Their mother, Teri Pranger, said the separation is difficult, even after going through several deployments with her husband.
"This is his 10th deployment, and they never get easy," she said.
About 200 members of the 138th Fighter Wing left for Iraq on Sept. 28 to provide air support to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, which is set to be completed by the end of 2011. The remaining airmen will return with supplies over the coming week.
"During this historic undertaking to reposture personnel, equipment and bases, force protection remained inherent in every operation," said Lt. Col. Rick Poplin, commander of the 125th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 138th Fighter Wing. "The close air support missions we flew provided top cover for U.S. forces as they transitioned personnel and equipment out of Iraq. As always, the men and women of the Oklahoma Air National Guard performed flawlessly and exceeded expectations at every level."
Members of the 138th Fighter Wing will be some of the last American forces in the country.
President Barack Obama said last month that, in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement signed by President George W. Bush in 2008, all U.S. troops would be out of the country by Dec. 31, 2011, bringing an end to the nearly nine-year war in Iraq.
For Tulsa's unit, the involvement in that country has lasted longer than that.
Members of the 138th Fighter Wing covered the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq in the 1990s. They were in Kuwait on Sept. 11, 2001, and have been deployed to Iraq several times since to provide air support for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Brig. Gen. Mike Hepner, commander of the 138th Fighter Wing, said that for the unit, their history with Iraq makes this homecoming somewhat more meaningful than others.
"The first ones in and the last ones out," he said. "It's a good piece of history for them, and we're proud of them."
With the war ending, some of the airmen and their families can rest a little easier now, Hepner said.
"It's some closure to our folks and families," he said, emphasizing the families. "They have the hardest job."
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By JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Published: 11/19/2011 1:59 AM
Last Modified: 11/19/2011 7:59 AM
Shelley Schomburg was sending text messages to her husband, Staff Sgt. Wayne Schomburg, as the charter plane taxied to the Oklahoma Air National Guard base Friday.
It had been nearly two months since she had seen him and just more than two months since they were married.
"I'll knock a few people over to get out," he told her in a text as the airmen pushed the staircase up to the jet to let the more than 100 members of the 138th Fighter Wing deplane to greet relatives and friends who gathered in anxious anticipation.
The Guard members returned Friday to Oklahoma from their two-month deployment in Iraq, marking an end to a decades-long history between Iraq and the fighter wing.
When Shelley Schomburg saw her husband, she started to run his toward him but was stopped by an airman who was keeping people off the Tarmac.
"I just want to jump in his arms and never let go," she said. "Every minute of the day, all you do is think about him."
When he made it to her, they embraced tightly and held each other. Then she told him that she had a surprise for him: Wayne Schomburg's brother, Bill Schomburg, had driven through the night across several states to see Wayne Schomburg return.
Wayne Schomburg saw his older brother and was immediately overcome with tears of joy.
"This is absolutely indescribable," he said later. "Best surprise I've ever had."
Bill Schomburg was still using crutches to get around after falling 35 feet from a tree last year, a fall that broke both his legs and nearly killed him, Wayne Schomburg said.
"It's absolutely a miracle he's here," he said.
Andrew Pranger was looking forward to sharing his 14th birthday dinner with his father, Tech. Sgt. James Pranger.
"It's a very good birthday present," said Andrew's sister, Ashley Pranger. "We're very excited."
Their mother, Teri Pranger, said the separation is difficult, even after going through several deployments with her husband.
"This is his 10th deployment, and they never get easy," she said.
About 200 members of the 138th Fighter Wing left for Iraq on Sept. 28 to provide air support to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, which is set to be completed by the end of 2011. The remaining airmen will return with supplies over the coming week.
"During this historic undertaking to reposture personnel, equipment and bases, force protection remained inherent in every operation," said Lt. Col. Rick Poplin, commander of the 125th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 138th Fighter Wing. "The close air support missions we flew provided top cover for U.S. forces as they transitioned personnel and equipment out of Iraq. As always, the men and women of the Oklahoma Air National Guard performed flawlessly and exceeded expectations at every level."
Members of the 138th Fighter Wing will be some of the last American forces in the country.
President Barack Obama said last month that, in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement signed by President George W. Bush in 2008, all U.S. troops would be out of the country by Dec. 31, 2011, bringing an end to the nearly nine-year war in Iraq.
For Tulsa's unit, the involvement in that country has lasted longer than that.
Members of the 138th Fighter Wing covered the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq in the 1990s. They were in Kuwait on Sept. 11, 2001, and have been deployed to Iraq several times since to provide air support for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Brig. Gen. Mike Hepner, commander of the 138th Fighter Wing, said that for the unit, their history with Iraq makes this homecoming somewhat more meaningful than others.
"The first ones in and the last ones out," he said. "It's a good piece of history for them, and we're proud of them."
With the war ending, some of the airmen and their families can rest a little easier now, Hepner said.
"It's some closure to our folks and families," he said, emphasizing the families. "They have the hardest job."
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