SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Over 250 soldiers from Utah's National Guard have a lot of catching up to do Friday night. They just returned home from a 12 month deploy to Afghanistan.
It's not often the sound a 737 draws this much excitement.
“What is it like knowing that he's going to come off that plane in a matter of minutes?” asked a reporter.
“Aw, my hearts jumpin!” said Tira Petersen, wife of a Utah soldier.
Some family and friends of Utah's 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion hadn't seen their soldier in over a year, so when they walked onto the tarmac, you couldn't hold them back.
“The whole time you're over there you're focusing on the mission, but you think of home, and you think of this day,” said Lt. Jared Jeppson, Utah National Guard.
Many of these families are obviously eager to catch up; they say the internet and phone calls just weren't enough.
“You sort of… you just… Woo! You can't keep it still,” said Julie Baird, mother of a Utah soldier.
Eagle Mountain welcomed home soldiers from its city in parade fashion.
They left a year ago, to provide intelligence so soldiers could protect Afghanis from the Taliban.
But if you saw them then, you'd never recognize them today.
“We wore civilian clothes, grew beards out, it’s a little different mission,” said Staff Sgt. Mike Jackson, Utah National Guard.
Several soldiers said it gained trust, and convinced the Afghani people to work with them.
“They wanted to do it for the good of Afghanistan, there are a lot of great people over there that want the fighting to stop, that haven't had the freedoms that we're so fortunate to have,” said Jackson.
Although families say they're proud the work their of soldiers do, they're happier to have them back.
“It was just really wonderful, it just… I don't… you're just so grateful,” said Baird.
Romance in wartime
A year ago we told you about two members of the 142nd who got engaged the day they left, Specialist Thomas O’leary and Specialist Trista Wynn. We caught up with them as they returned home Friday from Afghanistan.
“How do make the relationship work when you’re in the middle of a war zone?” asked a reporter.
“It’s easy as long as you love each other as much as we do. Everything just kind of falls into place. It’s just a lot of understanding about what the person’s job is and what’s necessary to support them and whatever time you get is just extra, and it makes it that much easier,” said Specialist Thomas O’leary, Utah National Guard.
“Did he make it easier for you Trista?” asked a reporter.
“He did he made it a lot easier,” said Specialist Trista Wynn, Utah National Guard.
They even started planning their wedding during their deployment.
“How do you plan a wedding in Afghanistan?” asked a reporter.
Laughingly they both said, “The internet! The internet!”
So far they’re planning on get married August 8th at the Tuscany Gardens in Roy.
