Gloomy Day Still Gives Airmen Warm Welcome

As the situation in Iraq heats up, some troops are happy to be back home in Arkansas. Nineteen airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base returned Saturday morning, from a four-month stint in Kirkuk. They`re a part of the 314th Services Squadron. Their mission was to keep up morale for the soldiers and airmen running missions in Kurkuk. That meant keeping about 5,000 Air Force and Army troops happy, which the squadron did with games and social activities. With the mission completed, they came home to smiles and hugs from family and friends. "You really see the impact on the smallest things. Some of those guys didn`t have lights and living conditions that would meet our standards," said Staff Sgt. Freddie Jones. "I`m just proud and honored to have him at home. What he did over there is an honor to me and to our country," said Jones wife, Nikki. While they were gone, Little Rock Air Force Base got some help from the 188th and 189th Air Natioanl Guard. Those troops filled in at the base, while the others were away.