South Dakota airmen welcomed home after deployment near China

Fighter pilots, aircrews sent to project force, send message to China, allies

Sisters Kaitlyn and Peyton Meadors were among those who deployed to Okinawa, Japan in April. (Jonathan Ellis/The Dakota Scout)

Nearly 300 members of the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard were welcomed home Saturday following a three-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

Among those to welcome them and their families was Gov. Kristi Noem, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken. Noem cut to the chase in her welcome speech.

“I think everyone can agree that China sucks, right,” she said.

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