More than a homecoming

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Airmen reunited with their family and friends July 25, after being deployed to Southwest Asia for six-months. One Airman in particular had no one there to greet him or holding up welcome home signs, because his family was gathered a few miles away where a new addition was brought into the world.

For Senior Airman Phillip Meyers, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, his celebration didn't begin until he made it through the doors of Abilene Regional Hospital, where his wife, Staff Sgt. Staci Meyers, 7th Maintenance Operations Squadron, greeted him with their first newborn child, Claire.

"We had really high doubts that he was going to make it because their estimated dates were past my due date," she said. "The doctor already put me on bed rest two weeks prior, and my actual due date was the day he flew in."

"As soon as I got off the plane, one of my supervisors said he would get my luggage for me so I just rushed to the car and went straight to the hospital," he said. "I was a little bummed that I didn't get to see the birth, but I was glad it happened when it did. There has been no greater feeling than being there for the first few hours of our daughter's life."

Since January, Meyers was one of more than 400 Airmen deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from Dyess.

"It's hard for any spouse to have their loved one away on a deployment," said the new mother. "Being pregnant with your first child and having him gone made things much harder. Let's just say when he walked through the hospital doors, there was a lot of crying and excitement for our family to be reunited."

After completing a six-month deployment with sweltering temperatures and never-ending days, most Airmen come home to some well needed rest and recuperation. However, for Meyers, the real job has just begun.

"It's good being home so far. You don't get very much sleep. But, I'm happy to be back with my family," he said. "I am very excited to be a father. It's a big change in our life, but I think I will make a great dad."