Small American flags waved and signs were held high in the air as friends and family of U.S. Air Force Capt. Laurie Minard welcomed her home. "I knew they were up to something but I wasn't expecting all this," Minard said. "This is awesome, I can't believe this. This is great." The group of about 25 waited anxiously at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport Sept. 26 for the Kingsburg native's much anticipated return.

At the sight of Minard, the group began to cheer "USA" and quickly ran to hug their hometown hero.

And the first thing on her agenda, "Mom's chicken and dumplings," she said.

Minard has served three tours in Iraq over a 12-year span in the Air Force. Her job was a critical care nurse in the Balad hospital intensive care unit. The hospital is located about 10 miles from Baghdad

"We took care of our guys, we took care of their guys, we took care of civilians and children," Minard said. "Talking with the civilians and children through interpreters, they love us, they think we're great guys."

Leslie Reed, Minard's younger sister, couldn't agree more.

"I'm just overwhelmed with joy because we've been praying for her safe return and she's our hero," she said. "She's our older sister and has always been the rock of our family. She was a rock in the U.S. Air Force and for all the men and women she saved."

Many family members emphasized their hopes for the third tour to be the last. Minard said, however, there's always a chance she will go back.

"I'm kind of hoping I can take a break for a little while," she said. "There's a lot of good work being done out there by good people and at the same time, I wish they were home."

Minard's mother, Barbara Little, said even though she was able to keep in contact with her daughter, it was hard to hear the sound of doubt in her daughter's voice.

"I'm anxious and so glad this tour is over," she said. "I could hear it in her voice every time she would be able to patch through and call me. You could hear it in her voice that she knew she was going to do it, it was her duty to do it, but I could just feel the dread of not wanting to go again."

Minard was located at the base hospital in Balad. She was able to call every couple of weeks and respond to e-mail about every other day.

"You don't sleep real good, you try and you kind of think of it as she's pretty safe right there," Little said. "You could hear the trepidation in her voice. You knew there were things going on from the things you could see on television."

During her first tour in Iraq, she assisted with gallbladder surgery on Saddam Hussein, Little said.

"She was right in the middle of everything, on the flights to bring in the wounded," Little said. "When she was on base, I felt a little bit better because they don't let them leave that base. When they're there, they're there.

"And whenever you hear her talk and you know that she tried to go to sleep after a 15-hour shift or something and mortars and bombs are going off, it's hard."

Minard has been in the Air Force for a total of 12 years, four spent in Iraq. She was out for eight years to pursue her degree in nursing at the University of San Antonio. After completing her degree, she re-enlisted.

"I'm just glad she's back and no more," Little said. "We hope this is it. She's got about four or five months to out process and then she gets to come home."