Reservists and aircraft return from Southwest Asia mission Published Sept. 26, 2014 By Maj. Brent J. Davis 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Several dozen Air Force Reservists, the last of more than 110 deployed Citizen Airmen, returned from their four-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom here, Sept. 19, 2014. During their overseas tour of duty, the Reservists fulfilled an important role by flying relief missions to Iraq. They air-dropped 54 tons of food and water to starving Yazidi refugees during the humanitarian relief operation in the Sinjar Mountain region of Iraq as well as humanitarian airdrop missions near the town of Amirili, Iraq. "These are our Northeast Ohio heroes that are coming back. They have done their duty, what we have asked them to do," said Col. James D. Dignan, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing. "Many Americans and those in northeast Ohio saw the effect that our community has on the world. The impact on Mount Sinjar and this battle against ISIS was led by northeast Ohio Airmen." "We knew that everything that was coming out of our airplane would save someone's life (and) was extremely important," said Lt. Col. John Boccieri, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing's 757th Airlift Squadron and the 737th Expeditionary Squadron. (From the humanitarian airdrops) to ferrying our troops all over the region, (they) just did a fantastic job. They did it with professionalism and honor and we returned home safely." As the C-130's approached YARS, loved ones anxiously waited for the aircraft to land. Even as the planes flew overhead, the crowd gathered on the ground erupted with cheers of excitement. The returning Citizen Airmen arrived to applause, hugs, kisses and handshakes. Tressa Speight was waiting for her husband, Master Sgt. Justin Speight, a load master with the 757th Airlift Squadron. She said it's been too long for her and her two kids to be without their dad. "(Our infant daughter) was barely sitting up when he left. Now she is crawling and trying to walk," Tressa said. For the Speights, a reunion had to wait a little bit longer because Sergeant Speight was one of the last off the plane. When the Speight's son, Roman, saw his father emerge from the plane, the child could not hide his excitement any longer and ran to his father's arms. "Just so glad to have him home, just want to get him home now. So proud of him," Tressa said. Sergeant Speight agreed. "A lot of time to make up. A lot," he said.