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The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

Portrait of an airman returning home to family

Trish+Stephens+hands+Mike+Stephens+their+daughter%2C+Quinnlyn%2C+after+greeting+him+home+from+a+seven-month+deployment+to+Afghanistan+on+Oct.+27.+Mike+was+deployed+with+the+442nd+Fighter+Wing+from+Whiteman+AFB.
Trish Stephens hands Mike Stephens their daughter, Quinnlyn, after greeting him home from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan on Oct. 27. Mike was deployed with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB.

Photo story by Heidi Tuley

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  • From left, Trish Stephens, 27, creates a homecoming sign on Oct. 24 with her daughters Quinnlyn, 1 month, and Paige, 8, for her husband, Mike Stephens, 32. Mike was scheduled to return home Oct. 27 from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman Air Force Base.

  • Paige Delap creates a homecoming sign on Oct. 24 in Warrensburg for her dad, Mike Stephens, who was returning from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB.

  • Brad Greenwalt, the Stephens’ neighbor, hangs windows decorated with the Stephens’ wedding vows on Oct. 24 in Warrensburg, just a few days before Mike Stephens returned from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB.

  • Paige Delap, reads a book to her mom, Trish Stephens and sister, Quinnlyn, before bedtime on Oct. 24 in Warrenburg. Trish’s husband, Mike Stephens, had been deployed for seven months in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB.

  • Paige Delap brushes her hair in preparation for the homecoming of her dad, Mike Stephens, Oct. 27. Mike served a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman Air Force Base.

  • Trish Stephens, Quinnlyn, and Paige Delap hold their signs with other family members and friends on Oct. 27 as their loved ones serving in the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB return home from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan.

  • Tears of joy begin to form as Trish Stephens sees her husband, Mike, for the first time in seven months. Mike was deployed to Afghanistan with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whitman AFB for seven months, meeting their daughter, Quinnlyn, for the first time upon returning.

  • Trish Stephens hands Mike Stephens their daughter, Quinnlyn, after greeting him home from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan on Oct. 27. Mike was deployed with the 442nd Fighter Wing from Whiteman AFB.

  • Mike Stephens helps his daughter, Paige Delap, with her addition and subtraction as he adjusts back into his role as daddy at home on Nov. 13 in Warrensburg.

  • With the family reunited after seven months apart, Paige Delap can now read to her dad, mom and sister in their home on Nov. 13 in Warrensburg.

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Portrait of an airman returning home to family