United States Air Force members return home to Santa Barbara County after deployment

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A couple of dozen U.S. Air Force members were greeted at Santa Barbara Airport after a six-month deployment. The airmen and women were stationed in Saudi Arabia.

Family members held signs saying “Welcome Home Daddy!!!” and “Home is where the heart is and mine is finally home”.

Sgt. Ken Valdo said this deployment felt different now that he has a family of his own. “It feels good. This is my first deployment, you know where I’m married and I have kids. My last three I was single. So it’s a real blessing to come home and see my son and my daughter who I haven’t seen in six months.”

The USAF airmen and women are stationed at Vandenberg Space Force Base. They returned home Friday afternoon.