Trevor Loucks/KTVB

Hugs and smiles all around as 300 Idaho airmen returned home Tuesday night

MOUNTAIN HOME - Nearly 300 airmen from the 389th Fighter Squadron are home with their families after spending more than four months away on a mission in southwest Asia.

We saw a lot of tears, smiles and hugs as families reunited with their loved ones who were deployed to Guam in May.

Family, friends and loved ones have spent the past four months waiting for this moment.

When the airmen finally set foot on base the crowd waiting for them couldn't hold back its excitement.

"I am just really happy and my kids are really happy to have him home finally," said Sarah Lori, husband returned.

"I don't ever want him to leave again," said Rebecca and Staff Sgt. James Thompson.

For some families, the four months away was the longest deployment they have dealt with.

"It’s been the longest one and it was definitely rough," said Staff Sgt. Justin Hunter.

The deployment to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam was part of a scheduled rotation of Air Force units into the region to enhance security and provide training opportunities.

"We were busy with a lot of long hours so it definitely felt like we were there for a reason and had something to do that was important," Hunter said.

A mission that took sacrifice - and now these families are ready to make up for some lost time.

"I missed him a lot," Hunter’s son Orion said.

"I am so glad to have their father back. It has been a long four months," Michelle Hunter said.

This is the first of many major arrivals the Mountain Home Air Force Base will see over the next few months. The base currently has about a thousand additional airmen deployed around the world.