Oklahoma National Guardsmen Return Home From Yearlong Deployment

Jamie Oberg, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Fifty state soldiers are back home Saturday night, ending a long stay serving us overseas.

They weren't on the front lines in Afghanistan or Iraq, but serving on the Sinai Peninsula and keeping the peace between Israel and Egypt.

The soldiers were gone from their families for one long year, all reunited Saturday night after a few minor airport delays.

"Great to be home, had a great mission but it's always great to be home," said Butch Bond, one of the soldiers who returned home Saturday.

Fifty soldiers from the 90th troop command and the 120th Medical Support Company accomplished their mission, keeping the peace in the Middle East on their yearlong mission.

"They left on our youngest first birthday," Kari Wright said.

Meanwhile, back home the mission: single-mom for many... daddy was away missing milestones like birthdays, losing a first tooth and starting school.

These Oklahoma National guard soldiers were gone for some scarier times, like what happened to the Bond Family.

"We live in Washington, a tornado came through, my dad died a couple days later, Tanner's first year at a new school, we've been married almost 27 years so it was just a really long time to be gone," Terribeth said.

Sixteen-year-old Tanner Bond hugged his dad. He was happy he doesn't have to be the man of the house alone, and happy mom doesn't have to cook.

"He wants me to cook! Haha," Butch Bond said.

"I am just so happy, I don't know how to explain it, we missed him," Said Terribeth. "We do everything together. It'll be a lot of fun to have us be one unit again."

The families are thinking and praying for their brothers and sisters still serving overseas with the Oklahoma National Guard, and look forward to their homecoming.