“It was one of the hardest things to go through,” Scott said Friday morning, reflecting back on the day he left. “We couldn't even look at each other and enjoy it.”

Nearly four months later, Sgt. Harris and 250 other airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing squadron returned early Friday to Hill Air Force Base, where the wing is based. Their plane arrived at 12:13 a.m., and despite the late hour, throngs of family members carrying "welcome home" banners and colorful balloons cheered and whistled as they touched down.

On the tarmac, Suzanne stood on tiptoe watching for Scott. When she saw him she waved her miniature American flag and Scott smiled and walked over for a kiss and a long hug.

“Look at you,” he said to her. “God, you look great.”

Sgt. Harris said his last week in Iraq had been nerve-racking.

“I was walking around my [trailer] living room looking for my tent and we got attacked seven times,” he said. “You could hear mortars all around you.”

Other returning fighter jet maintenance experts and pilots received greetings similar to Harris. One tired child rested her head on her father's shoulder. Another airman cradled a miniature pet dog under his arm.

The group had traveled 26 hours and made stops in Turkey, Frankfurt and Baltimore before returning home.

Squadron leader Fraser Calder was met by his wife, Ann, his 12-year-old son, Finlay, and his younger daughter, Stacey. Like Harris, he also left on Christmas night.

“It was the worst Christmas day we've ever had,” Calder said. “The whole day was a countdown, and that was dreadful.

“It's good to be back,” he added. “We brought back everyone we took out.”

Finlay said he was happy to see his father. He was even happier when Calder promised to take him to the new Star Wars movie.

Fighter pilot Capt. Christina Deibel also was glad to be back. She was the only female pilot from the 388th Fighter Wing to be deployed to Iraq.

“I didn't feel any different than the guys,” she said with a shrug. “Women have been flying for 12 years. The novelty should have worn off some.”

Deibel and other pilots provided air support and kept radio contact with ground troops.

Now that she's back, Deibel plans to keep busy by planning her Nov. 12 wedding. Her fiancé left four days ago to fight in Afghanistan. The couple will tie the knot in Fort Bragg, N.C., when he returns.

jbergreen@sltrib.com