Sister, Brother Meet Up in Southwest Asia
by Tech. Sgt. Melissa Phillips
Air Force News
May 27, 2005
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq - An Airman here got quite a surprise when she got off the plane in a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia in transit to her final destination here.
It was the smiling face of her brother, Staff Sgt. Matthew Hochstein, an aerospace ground equipment technician with the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron who is deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
"I mentioned to him that I was going to stop there (and gave him my plane's mission number), but I didn't expect for him to be waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs when I exited the plane," said Airman 1st Class Theresa Hochstein, a supply technician with the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here.
Planning to call him later that night when the group of Airmen she was traveling with was dismissed to rest before their next flight, the encounter was their first meeting since Christmas.
Since this is her first deployment in her two-year tenure with the Air Force, Airman Hochstein stocked up on advice from her big brother who has been deployed five times in his military career.
"He told me about some of the things he saw during his past deployments, and that gave me a better idea of what I was getting into," said Airman Hochstein, whose job is to supply Airmen here the tools they need to maintain and improve their work areas.
While at her brother's deployed location, Airman Hochstein took him along with her to the base exchange to purchase a few last minute things.
"He said for me to get the little stick-up air fresheners," said Airman Hochstein, who deployed from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. "I didn't understand why until I got here.
"These tents are really old; the air fresheners really help because if you put them in the air vent then the whole tent will smell good," she said.
Airman and Sergeant Hochstein are the only two out of six children who are in the military.
"I was nice to see him and that he was doing well," Airman Hochstein said. "I've always looked at the challenges I've faced in my career as, "If Matt can do it, so can I.'"
Sergeant Hochstein said he thinks this deployment will be a good experience for his little sister.
"Now she gets to meet new people, travel the world and see many different things and cultures," he said.
Although she has traveled a world away from her hometown of Hartington, Neb., her family is always close in her thoughts.
"We've always had a close family, and I'm the farthest away," she said. "I have five brothers, and they mean the world to me.
"I tell my friends and family that this is a chance to really make difference, and this is one of those sacrifices that you can see the direct effect that is has on so many people," Airman Hochstein said. (Some information obtained from 379th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs.)
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