After long months in Iraq, soldiers return home

That nickname for her father — Master Sergeant Kenneth Fowlie — apparently stuck after she mailed him a miniature pig she had made in school while he was deployed in Iraq with the Massachusetts Air National Guard 102d Security Forces Squadron.

At Logan, Stephanie joined hundreds of other people, many of whom cried tears of joy and waved American flags, welcoming their loved ones home after the six-month deployment.

“I get to spend time with him,’’ she said with a smile before the squadron entered the terminal shortly before noon. “I get to go out to eat with him.’’

She also got to give him a hug when he arrived.

Other family members were also on hand to give Fowlie, 43, of Wareham, a warm welcome. His wife, Lynn, 42, said she was overjoyed that her husband returned safely as their son, Kenneth, 14, sat nearby.

“It was a long six months,’’ said Lynn, adding that she took comfort in their conversations via Skype. “Every day he talked to me.’’

As for her husband, he appeared elated — and a bit overwhelmed — yesterday. He said the beginning of the deployment in Baghdad remains fresh in his mind.

“It’s kind of surreal,’’ he said. “I’m just trying to get acclimated. . . . It seems like just yesterday that we did it.’’

His squadron, based at Otis, provided security for Sather Air Base, according to Colonel Anthony Schiavi, commander of the 102d Intelligence Wing. He said the 102d has been deployed overseas several times in recent years.

“They’ve been stressed since 9/11,’’ he said. “But they continue to keep the bar high.’’

Senior Master Sergeant Brian Eastman, 41, of Sandwich, shared a long embrace with his wife, Glenda.

“We go out there with a job to do, and we’re glad to do it,’’ said Eastman, who has now completed his third overseas deployment in the past four years. “You stay focused on the mission . . . but this is the day we’re all after.’’

Eastman said this last deployment was harder on his family than the previous two, in part because his children, Savannah, 13, and Nick, 8, have grown older.

“They’re involved during the whole thing’’ now, he said.

Glenda Eastman said she is thrilled that her husband has returned safely to “put our family whole.’’

“Our chair just hasn’t been sitting quite the same with one of its legs missing,’’ she said.

Glenda said she had a party planned for last night with her neighbors, who provided invaluable support in her husband’s absence, “whether it’s snow blowing, rides to hockey. I would like to celebrate them, as well as Brian’s coming home.’’

Forty-two members of the squadron were on the most recent deployment, Schiavi said. A formal welcoming ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow at the base.

Among those returning yesterday was Staff Sergeant Aaron Wolfgang, 36, of Buzzards Bay. His wife, Air Force Reserve Senior Airman Zyda Wolfgang, 28, who has served previously in Iraq and Afghanistan, said being away from a spouse is just as difficult for someone with firsthand knowledge of a deployment routine.

“It doesn’t get any easier,’’ she said. “You’re trying to find ways to cope.’’

When he did arrive at the airport, Aaron Wolfgang immediately pointed to his wife when asked what the best part about being home was. He also said he was looking forward to seeing his son, Lucas.

“I’ll be seeing him soon, so that’ll be awesome,’’ he said.

Zyda added that she and her husband have been unable to celebrate their first two wedding anniversaries together, due to conflicting deployments. However, she is holding out hope for their third anniversary coming up in August.

“Duty comes first, I guess,’’ she said. “We can celebrate anytime, as long as he gets back. The dates don’t matter.’’

Travis Andersen can be reached at tandersen@globe.com.