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171st Air Refueling Wing Returns Home

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The no-fly zone over Libya, now led by NATO forces, is fueled by the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Forty members of the 171st Air Refueling Wing returned to home base in Pittsburgh on Tuesday afternoon.

Their families greeted them with tears of joy.

Lt. Colonel Michael Koma and Sheet Metal Mechanic Patrick Hoffman spent a month with their comrades in an undisclosed location in western Europe.

"It's just hard knowing that you can get called up at any time and be gone for months and months at any time," Jennifer Hoffman said.

It's a hardship that military families have dealt with since the first wars were fought, but for mothers, wives, husbands and kids, that doesn't mean it's easy.

"I myself feel the same anxiety I had when my husband returned from Vietnam 40-some years ago – lot of worry, lot of loneliness," Mary Koma said.

Her grandson, Mason, beams with pride talking about his dad.

"It's really cool," he said. "He goes on trips sometimes and I'm really proud of him."

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