News 12 @ 11 o'clock -- September 5, 2008

AUGUSTA, GA-- "It was pretty much the hardest thing I ever had to do was see him leave. You know, for deployment and just knowing you may never see him again," said Christina Herring, Ssgt. Herring's wife.

But now Christina Herring and her family can put that thought to rest.
Their hero, Staff Sergeant Jonathan Herring is coming home and will finally get to see his children.

"Being pregnant and having Ally, you know, now he's coming home and I'm excited because he gets to meet Noah for the first time," said Christina.

Signs his wife and daughter Ally made that read "I'm meeting my dad for the first time" and "I miss you daddy" cover the stroller and walls in the terminal as they wait.

"Now that she knows he's coming she says daddy's riding the 'pairpane' to see me, so she knows he's coming. So I hope she just makes a bee line straight for him," said Christina.

And that's just what she does.

"Daddy!" said Ally, Ssgt. Herring's daughter.

As Sergeant Herring greeted his family, everyone was glad to have him back home.

"Daddy's home," said Ally.

And there's no other place he'd rather be.

"It's awesome to be back to see my kids especially Noah for the first time. I didn't get to see him get born but its alright, I'll make up for that," said Ssgt. Jonathan Herring.

And for this soldier, its a homecoming that's more than overdue.

"I'm very excited. Nine months without seeing my family is very hard to go through but I'm just, words can't explain how good it is to be home, " said Ssgt. Herring.

"I'm glad to see him, he's my hero," said Christina.

Jonathan and his family plan to spend some much needed quality time together before he leaves again. He will head back to Iraq in just 18 days.