Fort Campbell, KY – The storms held off Sunday night as the flight bearing 242 Wings of Destiny flew threw threatening skies. The flight was delayed for an hour, most likely to bypass the storm fronts that had passed through the area earlier in the day. While waiting on the flight to arrive family members spoke to one another as many of the children were running around playing with others on the hanger floor.
When the announcement that the plane was just 15 minutes away was made, family members headed outside to wait for the flight to arrive.
As the landing lights from the airplane coming into Fort Campbell Army Airfield were spotted, cheers broke out. They renewed and intensified as the plane touched down.
As the soldiers disembarked and made their way from the plane to the hanger, among the cheers you could hear cries of “There is my daddy” from the children, and shouts of happiness from others. In the crowd some family members were seen wiping tears of joy from their eyes. The Soldier waved as they passed by their family members.
Heather Byers waited with her daughter Jocey and several other family members waited to welcome home Brandon Byers, who is returning from his third combat deployment. Byers had two tours in Korea, one in Iraq, and has just completed his second tour in Afghanistan. Heather Byers is looking forward to getting to know her husband all over again, and just wants her family whole once again. Brandon Byers was awarded the Purple Heart in 2008 after being injured when his Humvee was hit by an IED attack in 2006.
The next flight is currently scheduled to arrive at 11:10 am on Thursday March 3, 2011 If you wish to attend a Welcome Home Ceremony, check the flight schedules online, as times are subject to change at any time. When arriving to Fort Campbell, enter via Gate 7; if you don’t have installation stickers on your vehicle, you will be required to get a visitor pass. From there just follow the signs to the ceremony parking. Waiting buses transport the Family members safely to the hanger.
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