The 317th Airlift Wing Airmen, called “The Trailblazers,” received a warm welcome from their friends and family upon their return to Abilene as they flew in, arriving in three C-130 planes.
The Trailblazers spent the last six months in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a combined joint task force working to help partners in Iraq and Syria defeat ISIS.
Families have anxiously awaited their airmen’s return home. Marc and Patrice Coleman traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to welcome their son and daughter-in-law back to the U.S., “Just proud of our children, and we’re just happy to see them back in the states.”
Others expressed similar sentiments of being excited and grateful that their six month separation from their airmen is over.