Siblings reunite at the Transit Center

Eleanor Smith smiles excitedly while talking to her brother, Army Maj. John Womack, for the first time in a year March 16, 2012, while awaiting access to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Womack is returning home after a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan and is passing through the Transit Center. Smith lives in Kyrgyzstan with her husband and three children. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Siblings reunite at the Transit Center

Nathan Smith hugs his uncle, Army Maj. John Womack, for the first time in a year March 16, 2012, during a short family reunion at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The Transit Center organized a few hours for the family to reunite while Womack was passing though following a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Family reunion in Kyrgyzstan

Published March 17, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz
376th Air Expeditionary Wing

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- An Army major reunited with his sister and her family here March 16, after a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan.

For many service members, the first stage of homecoming isn't until they land in the United States. But for Maj. John Womack, an Afghan Security Forces advisor deployed from Fort Drum, N.Y., it began here in Kyrgyzstan.

"Less than 24 hours ago I was in Afghanistan," Womack said. "Now I'm sitting with my sister and playing with my nephews and niece. It's really sinking in that I'm going home."

Eleanor Smith is the oldest of the three siblings who grew up in Nashville, but has been living in Kyrgyzstan for almost 10 years with her husband and three children. Once
Eleanor found out her baby brother "John" would be traveling though the Transit Center, she quickly made contact with officials here to figure out how she could see him.

Lt. Col. Adam Rutherford the Transit Center Theater Security Cooperation division director, arranged the reunion. He checked flights daily in hopes of finding Womack. Once he did, he routed all of the proper paperwork in a matter of hours.

"I think that it's very cool that we can connect family members half-a-world away from the United States," Rutherford said. They have the opportunity to spend a couple hours with one another. It's the right thing to do and I'm glad we could help make it happen."

This is Womack's second deployment during his 12 years in the Army. He is returning home to his 18-month-old daughter.

"We're proud of John and of all of you who are serving our country and your sacrificial mind set. We're just really thankful for that and our prayers are with all of you," Smith said.