SPOKANE, Wash. — Sergeant Katelynn Skaggs walked off her flight at Spokane Airport today to an emotional reunion as family, friends and even strangers gathered to surprise her and celebrate her return home from a year-long deployment in the Middle East.
Pride, excitement and joy filled the airport as Skaggs completed her deployment with the U.S. Army Reserve 328th Medical Detachment, where she served as a behavioral health non-commissioned officer.
“Overwhelmed. But, like, in a good way. Because it’s nice to know all the love and support you have coming home,” Skaggs said. “It’s questionable. There are some people who don’t get all of that. So being able to have that and then even some strangers coming in and supporting on the way home.”
Originally deployed to Kuwait, Skaggs moved around on other assignments throughout the Middle East during her deployment. Her role involved providing critical mental health support across military branches.
“I was providing mental health services to any service member, not just Army, but like Navy, Marines, anyone who is an American, military personnel,” Skaggs said.
Military service runs deep in the Skaggs family, and homecoming celebrations have become something of a tradition. Her father, Erik Skaggs, recently retired after 28 years of service. Both father and daughter found themselves serving in the Middle East simultaneously during the 12-day war last year.
“When Iran attacked, we both had to go to bunkers during the missile strikes and drone strikes and everything like that. And so, we had a little code system we worked out with each other,” Erik Skaggs said. “So it was just that way of keeping in touch with her and, making sure she was safe.”
As military action picks up in the Middle East with the war in Iran underway, Skaggs returns home with mixed emotions about her homecoming.
“I’m happy I’m home and that I’m safe. I have some very, very good friends that are still out there. And they’re in the middle of it,” Skaggs said.
Despite being safely home, Skaggs says she feels a pull to return to the Middle East and continue providing behavioral health support for the service members who remain deployed in the region.
The emotional homecoming at Spokane Airport highlighted both the relief of a safe return and the ongoing concern for fellow service members still serving in an active conflict zone.
© 2026 KAYU FOX 28. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without written permission.
