910th reservists return after 4-month deployment

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

VIENNA

Two-year-old Roman Speight excitedly removed and threw away the last of 120 chain links — each of which represented

the number of days his father was away.

“We had a countdown and he did take one link down every day,” said Roman’s mother, Tressa Speight of Green, Ohio, referring to her son’s handling of the four months his father, Master Sgt. Justin Speight, was deployed overseas.

On Friday, though, Tressa and Roman were among the estimated 400 family members, friends and relatives who greeted more than 60 members of the 910th Airlift Wing during a homecoming gathering at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The reservists, who returned from a four-month deployment to a forward operations site in Southwest Asia, are assigned to the 757th Airlift Squadron and the squadrons of the 910th Maintenance Group. They also were the last of an

estimated 110 citizen airmen returning from the tour of duty, which was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Their deployment, which began May 8, included helping to halt the advance of the Islamic State, performing humanitarian-relief operations, and providing support to airlift operations to certain military installations, noted Maj. Brent J.

Davis of the 910th Airlift Wing’s public-affairs office.

Roman, who held a small American flag as he awaited Justin Speight’s return, mentioned each evening that he missed his father, recalled Tressa, who also brought the couple’s 9-month-old daughter, Emma.

“I have a ton of respect for him to make the sacrifice,” she said, adding that the family dealt with Justin’s absence by taking life one day at a time and keeping busy, which included communicating with him via Face Time, a high-tech software application that allows people to communicate with and see one another in real time.

Audria Townsend of Cortland followed essentially the same strategies while coping with the absence of her husband, Maj. Phil Townsend.

“When he was in Iraq 10 years ago, we only had email, but now we can communicate with Face Time,” said Audria, who brought her children, Jimmie, 10; Preston, 13; and Abigail, 15, along with the children’s 14-year-old niece, Dreama.

Upon his return, Phil Townsend said his immediate plans include attending Friday’s high-school football game between Newton Falls and Lakeview, as well as his children’s soccer games and “getting back into the swing of life.”

“I feel complete,” Audria said when asked how it feels to have her husband back in the Mahoning Valley.

Long embraces and tears of joy were a common sight just after the reservists had stepped off two C-130 planes shortly before 2 p.m. and were reunited with their loved ones. Among those unable to hold back the tears was Senior Airman Molly Bowen, who was grateful to see her father, Bill Bowen, of Stow.

“She’s honest, hard-working and likes challenges,” Bill said shortly before his daughter’s arrival.

Bill Bowen, who retired after having managed a warehouse, said Molly spent one semester each at Akron and Kent State universities before enlisting. Molly has been a reservist nearly two years and plans to return to her job Sept. 29 at The Davie Tree Expert Co., he continued.

Many people held signs, including ones that read, “Welcome home 910th YARS,” “Welcome home, Christine” and “Welcome home, daddy.”

It was quite clear how 6-year-old Maddy Barr felt about her father, Capt. Ron Barr, from her sign that featured three large colored hearts and the inscription: “I love, love, love, love, love you.” Also part of the welcoming committee was her 8-year-old brother, Blake Barr, who carried a poster with a similar sentiment.

Accompanying the children was their grandmother, Julie Hinton, of St. Paris, Ohio, who’s Ron’s mother.

“It’s just great to have him back,” she said.