Nicolette, 10 , and Kyle, 12, look to see if they can see their dad. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Derek Muller, get off a bus at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Nicolette, 10 , and Kyle, 12, look to see if they can see their dad. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Derek Muller, get off a bus at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Wives of members of the 159th Medical Company, out of Wiesbaden, Germany, react as their husbands get off the bus that brought them from Ramstein Air Base upon their return from Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Domenic Espinoza, 2½, gives his dad, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Espinoza, a kiss as mom Anja watches. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Sgt. Kerry Boese and wife Sheila share a tender moment as son Samuel, 22 months, just seems happy to have dad home. Boese and other members of the 159th Medical Company, 421st Medical Evacuation Battalion, returned to Wiesbaden, Germany, from Operation Iraqi Freedom on Wednesday. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
WIESBADEN, Germany — As a slight drizzle became steadily harder, a bus pulled into the far corner of a parking lot at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
“Oh my God, they’re here,” cried one of nine wives huddled under an awning as they waited for their husband’s return from Iraq. Tears welled in their eyes.
“If I took off running, do you think they’d stop me?” asked one.
“Are we allowed to go?” asked another.
As approximately 20 soldiers in tan flight suits and BDUs stepped off the bus, the crowd of women and children rushed to the edge of the parking lot.
Once in formation, the soldiers marched only feet away from their family members and halted.
Then within minutes, they were in one another’s embrace.
After seven months, and in support of three operations, the Army pilots and medics of the 159th Medical Company, 421st Medical Evacuation Battalion were home.
“It feels good, it feels real good, to be home. It’s great,” said Spc. Aaron Lewis between kisses from his wife, Tara, and two children, Eli, 4, and Michallie, 2.
The soldiers initially deployed in October in support of Operation Desert Spring in Kuwait, then later supported Operation Enduring Freedom, and ended their tour with Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After about a month of rumors, family members ended up finding out their troops would be home just 90 minutes before their arrival.
“I can’t believe it. I’m shaking,” Kim Borowski said just before she saw her husband, Capt. Anthony Borowski.
“We’re going to the Canary Islands when he gets back,” she said through a big smile.
Others said they had plans for their husband’s arrival — including some unmentionables.
“All of us are going to be taking some block leave, so we can really spend some time together,” Aimee Stoddard said. She and her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Stoddard, are planning a trip to Las Vegas and Oklahoma.
Single soldiers were not left out, as other soldiers met up with old friends.
“You look great. I’ve missed you so much. Do you want to come over later and have dinner?” Spc. Karla Jimenez asked her old roommate, Spc. Candice Ford, who had been deployed.
Ford said she wrote to her pal a couple of times, but her letters still had not arrived due to the slow mail process.
While the husbands were away, the wives got together and made life easier by going to dinner together or having family movie nights. That helped ease the anxiety for everyone.
“The hardest part was seeing him drive away on the bus,” said Nicolette Muller, 10.
She wowed her father, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Derek Muller, by learning some Spanish while he was away and she proved it by telling him he was a hero in Spanish.
“We’ve done this before,” said mother Tiffany. This is the third deployment the family has lived through. “It doesn’t get any easier; you just know what to expect.”
The 421st still has about 200 soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Patricia Simoes, a 221st Base Support Battalion spokeswoman. Most of the 421st deployed about a month ago.
