LITTLE ROCK — About 15 airmen landed at Little Rock Air Force Base Saturday morning, returning from a deployment in southwest Asia and arriving to a crowd of well-wishers eager to welcome their loved ones back in time for Christmas.
Capt. Tim T. Banks said he served about 4 months at a base in Kuwait helping fly troops out of the region as the Iraq war came to its official end.
Banks was smiling when he stepped off the C-130 and onto the tarmac at the base, where he shook hands with fellow U.S. Air Force members.
"We made it back just in time to get back home and see family," he said afterward.
Click here to watch video of the airmen returning.
Some airmen arrived Friday and there was supposed to be a second plane carrying airmen arriving at the base Saturday, but it was delayed until Christmas morning. Another flight is scheduled to arrive the day after the holiday.
Col. Mike Minihan, the base commander, had dubbed the effort "the great Santa race of 2011" with returning airmen hoping to beat Kris Kringle to their homes.
Minihan was among those on the tarmac, greeting the airmen just before they moved to a nearby crowd where family members gathered.
"You say welcome home, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah," Minihan said. "We're glad to have you back safe and sound."
Master Sgt. Trey Norris was welcomed by his wife, Molly Norris, their son, 11-month-old Ashton, and stepdaughters Madison and Kylie Rogers.
He said embracing his family for the first time in months was emotional. And it was a surprise, Norris said, since his unit had originally anticipated returning in mid-January.
"It's really sweet," Norris said. "It's an unexpected gift to get home for Christmas."