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100 more Mont. guardsmen make it home

A C-17 cargo plane touched down at Gore Hill, Mont., at about 8:15 Saturday evening, bringing the 120th Fighter Wing’s 60-day deployment in Iraq to a close.

Seventy-three members of the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard arrived home Wednesday and, after several days of delays because of sand storms and mechanical problems, the final 100 airmen who were stationed at Balad Air Base joined them in Great Falls on Saturday night.

“It’s awesome,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Bartz after finally landing. “It’s a long time coming.”

The final week in Iraq, which the airmen spent waiting out the series of delays, went slowly, he said.

“It was frustrating,” Bartz said. “There’s only so much you can do in a recreation tent.”

However, spirits in the unit remained high, said Tech. Sgt. Teresa Parker.

“Everybody kept a pretty good attitude,” she said.

When the airmen finally landed on Gore Hill, their families crowded on the runway next to the plane, eager to see loved ones after a long two months.

“You guys’ voices are so high,” Lt. Col. Pat Hover said while hugging his two young daughters. “I’m not used to hearing the little voices.”

Though the airmen faced danger every day in Iraq, Bartz said, they all made it home safe and sound.

“We’re very relieved to have all of our folks return home safely,” said Maj. Rick Anderson, chief of public affairs for the 120th Fighter Wing. “Until they were actually back here on Montana soil, we were all pretty anxious and nervous. ... The paramount thing is everybody is coming back safe and out of harm’s way, and the missions were successful.”

Among those welcoming the airmen home Saturday were Montana Adjutant General Randy Mosley and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who saw the 120th off at 2 a.m. Feb. 29, and welcomed the first wave home Wednesday.

More than 170 members of the 120th Air Wing, along with five of its F-16 fighter jets, were part of the deployment.

“It’s a very surreal feeling knowing that these planes, these pilots, these maintainers and these support people that you see everyday, that they’re actually over there and helping out,” Anderson said. “And making a difference in the global war on terror.

“The Montana Air National Guard brings a special work ethic to the fight,” he added.

This was Bartz’s second trip to Iraq. The munitions expert also went with the Montana National Guard in 2004. From his perspective, things have improved significantly since then.

“It’s way more developed,” he said. “It’s still dangerous, but it’s not as bad as before.”

It was Parker’s first deployment to Iraq, and she said it pretty much fit her expectations. Most of the time, the weather was nice, but it did reach 111 degrees one day, she said.