The sign said “Welcome Home Hubby,” in alternating red and blue letters. She stood with her family and the other wives and waited for the men to get off the plane.

And then he was there and they hugged.

Married on April 18 last year, just a month before he shipped out to Iraq, Marine Reservist Cpl. Thomas Oelschlager, saw his wife, Lindsay, family and some friends for the first time in person last Wednesday when he stepped from an airplane into the terminal at Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

Oelschlager was greeted by his wife, parents Jack and Kathy Oelschlager of Crete, his brothers, Phillip and James, in-laws Rod and Terri Kuss and niece Caydence, of Crete, and three friends in a surprise welcome in the terminal.

“They guys in the unit were all surprised.” Kathey Oelschlager said. “They didn’t think anybody would be there.”

Waving welcome signs, they were a group of familiar faces to him among a crowd of excited  family and friends waiting for the Marine Engineer and Maintenance Company who returned home from service in Al Asad, Iraq.

Oelschlager acknowledged the shock of seeing them waiting in the terminal and said he was just very happy to be home.

Omaha television news cameras were there to record the joyous occasion. Families  were reuniting. Rod Kuss was there with own camera, too, capturing the memories for his family.

With current technology, Oelschlager was able to correspond with family in the states through internet services. His mother said she was able to speak with him while he was serving overseas.

Oelschlager said he spoke with his wife, Lindsay, daily through Skype, an internet service.

The couple made their home in Lincoln after they were married last year. The group took Oelschlager for a family meal after he arrived in Omaha.

Thomas Oelschlager worked in a heavy equipment maintenance shop while in Iraq. He will continue on active duty with his unit in Omaha for the next few months.