Heartwarming reunion at NAS-Lemoore as Strike Fighter Squadrons return home

LEMOORE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Holding signs that work "It's been excessively long" and "Welcome Home," 10-year-old Grace and her siblings waited anxiously for their dad's return.

Navy Commander Benjamin Rothenburg has been distant astatine oversea for 265 days

After that agelong wait, the infinitesimal yet arrived-a saccharine and affectional reunion.

"I was truly excited, I was jumping up and down screaming," says Grace.

"It's been challenging for sure, we person been doing this for astir 19 years," expresses Rothenburg.

He is portion of the Carrier Air Wing 2 Strike Fighter Squadron called the "Golden Dragons."

Three others besides returned location contiguous from their deployment: the "Bounty Hunters," "Stingers," and "Warhawks."

The 4 squadrons were distant for 9 months, completing missions successful parts of the Western Pacific and Middle East region.

Rothenburg is gladsome to beryllium location successful clip for his kids' archetypal time of schoolhouse connected Wednesday.

The timing was besides cleanable for this couple.

Pilot Kurt Wenske, a second-generation naval aviator, who made it location conscionable successful clip for his wedding.

"We are 4 weeks distant from getting married," says his fiance Catherine Harty.

When asked astir being reunited, "Unbelievable, ecstatic..." says Catherine.

"Over the satellite excited," follows Kurt Wenske.

Air crews accidental their quality to enactment connected done deployment has improved implicit the years-

But the clip isolated inactive isn't easy.

"As cheesy arsenic it tin beryllium sometimes, state is not free," expresses Wenske.

He continues, "There is simply a sacrifice and a cost. And it's incumbent that we each arsenic Americans measurement up and service our nation. And I'm incredibly arrogant of my work successful the US Navy."

With tears of joy, and over-the-moon excitement, families from Air Wing 2 are yet reunited.

Cherishing each infinitesimal until the adjacent deployment.

For South Valley quality updates, travel Kassandra Gutierrez connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.