Hammonton Fire Dept Welcomes Home Airman Amendolia
The Hammonton Fire and Police Department welcomed home Airman John Amendolia from Iraq on Thursday around 1:30pm August 19th 2010.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - There were tears, hugs, kisses and a dousing of sparkling cider as 25 service members with the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard returned stateside Thursday after six months in Iraq.
The unit had been part of the security forces at Joint Base Balad north of Baghdad. The end of their tour comes as the last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq on Wednesday as part of President Barack Obama's plan to end combat operations there by Aug. 31. U.S. forces will remain in the country in noncombat roles.
"We have dinner waiting for him," said Miriam Ruiz of her nephew, Senior Airman Jorge Echevarria, both of Pleasantville. "The whole family's going to be there."
"We're extremely proud," said Echevarria's stepmother, Kirian Alvarez. "We're glad he's here."
For the Smith family of Vineland, there were two reasons for celebration - brothers Aaron and Terrance Smith were both returning home.
"I'm so happy they're coming back," said their mother, Joan Upchurch, of Vineland. "Thank God they made it back safe."
The family of Senior Airman Kyle Pharo, of Stafford Township, carried a sign proclaiming "Kyle, you're our hero." Asked what their plans were for his homecoming, Pharo's father, Jeff, had an easy answer: "Whatever he wants to do."
The group of family and friends gathered inside the 177th headquarters at Atlantic City International Airport slowly drifted out of the waiting room to the roadside with their homemade signs, banners and U.S. flags. It took a little longer than expected, but finally police motorcycles from Egg Harbor Township and Margate and cruisers from Hamilton Township and the State Police heralded the coming of the bus they were all waiting for.
After one last formation and a final dismissal - and the ceremonial pouring of what everyone smilingly said was sparkling cider over the head of Chief Mike Allen - the service members found their friends and families.
Echevarria was deluged by requests for photographs and hugs and embraces, and it was a while before anyone could get close enough to ask how he felt.
"It's great, sir!" he said. "I missed them like crazy, sir. It will be wonderful to be with my family, and I know they have food waiting for me."
At first, Tech. Sgt. Aaron Smith, embracing his wife, Gloria, had just one word to describe everything: "Wow."
"It's a breath of fresh air to return back home," said Smith, a Vineland police officer. "It was a good deployment, and I'm glad to see friends and family now."
Staff Sgt. Terrance Smith had the same reaction as his brother when asked what it was like to be home: He just shook his head and blew air through his lips, searching for something to say.
"It's just great," he said, his 2-year-old daughter, Tamia, in his arms, clutching a U.S. flag. "It's great to be home with my daughter and son. Right?" he asked his daughter. "Yeah?"
Staff Sgt. Walter Kienzle, of Egg Harbor City, has his plans for the rest of summer all laid out.
"It's hard to believe I'm here already," Kienzle said. "I got a lot of support from my friends and family. They cared deeply and got me through it. ... I'm going to enjoy the rest of my summer, enjoy time with my friends and family, and I start college at Rowan on Sept. 1."
Contact Steven Lemongello: 609-272-7275 SLemongello@pressofac.com
