Tinker Airmen return from Southwest Asia

Published March 18, 2013
By Senior Airman Mark Hybers
507th Air Refueling Wing, Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Fifty-one members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing returned from a deployment to Southwest Asia, March 17.

The returning members make up about one third of the total number deployed on Jan. 7. They come back after supporting a broad spectrum of air refueling missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The cold, windy, cloudy day didn't keep family members, some sporting green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, from coming out and waiting on their loved ones as planes flew in all afternoon.

For some families, this deployment marks the first separation from their spouse or children.

"It's really great to see him and it's great to see this reunion with the kids," said Rose Steichen, wife of Capt. Adam Steichen. "This was the first deployment for our daughter. She's daddy's little girl."

This deployment is also the first separation for Tech. Sgt. Shaun Erickson and his twin daughters and son.

"We talked about it a lot at home," Kristyn Erickson, Shaun's wife said. "There were a lot of tough days during the time Shaun was gone, but we managed."

Erickson, a member of the 507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, thought he was going straight home after a long, hard deployment. His daughter had other plans.

"We are going to get ice cream at Orange Leaf," she said.