1157th receives warm welcome in Oshkosh

OSHKOSH - Smiles, tears, and everything in between were shared Friday on the EAA grounds.

"There's all sorts of emotions, a little bit nervous but above all excited," said Staff Sgt. Melissa Jeske.
     
More than 120 area soldiers returned home, and now get to enjoy all of the things that come with it.

"Excited to see family and friends and my dog, miss my dog," said Sgt. Austin Reese with the 107th Maintenance Company based in Sparta.
     
The members of the 1157th were gone for about a year. A year that seemed to go fast to some.
     
"We've been gone for so long, but at the same time it feels just like yesterday," said Sgt. Anthony Stenson.

The soldiers are part of the 1157th Transportation Company based out of Oshkosh. The warm welcome home Friday came after a mission in Afghanistan.

• Photos: 1157th returns to Oshkosh
• Photos: The 1157th in Afghanistan
• Photos: 1157th returns to U.S.

The unit finished up demobilization at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and flew in to the Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville Friday morning.

Members then hopped on busses for the ride down to the ceremony on the EAA grounds in Oshkosh.

As families watched and waited, when they reunited, it was pure joy.

A scene words cannot describe.

"I don't know what to say, I'm excited"

"It's overwhelming," said Spc. Garrett Kaehler

After 128 escort missions covering almost 2 million miles through a dangerous country, the 1157th is home.

"It's amazing, I wasn't even sure he would remember me. He wasn't even one before I left, but he remembers me, thank goodness for Skype," said Jeske.

Charlie Stenson's mother didn't tell him his older brother Anthony was about to walk through the door.

"Were you pretty excited when you saw him walk in the door? Yeah."

His parents were also relieved to have Anthony home.

"He's away for a year you know and in harms way, so yeah it was tough," said Stenson's father Marty.

But like other soldiers in the unit, Anthony says he is proud of the unit's mission, helping transport equipment for other soldiers coming home too.

"Everyone is really excited it was a long deployment, we all worked really hard and did really well," said Stenson.

For one soldier this deployment was extra special. Sergeant Luis Cortes-Avila became a United States citizen during the company's time in Afghanistan.

"I think it's incredible, I think it's a unique opportunity to become a U.S. citizen on foreign soil," said Cortes-Avila.

But best of all, they all have returned safe and sound.

"It's just so exciting for the families to get their kids and husbands back, husbands that haven't held babies yet and I'm just excited for all of them," said Debbie Stenson.

"Whether he likes it or not that's the way it's going to be...we're going to go get his Christmas presents and then it's gonna be non-stop with me," said Kaehler.

Now holding loved ones close, making up for lost time.

Now that the soldiers are back, the 1157th can't be called up for federal active duty for at least the next year and a half.