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Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander A. Burnett
21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
She stands in a small waiting room full of other people, although she seems more anxious than the rest. While the others wait for their loved ones to get off a plane, she goes from pane to pane in the window-walled room looking for that familiar face. She is a professional at most times in her life. In this moment she is a mother waiting for her son.
Christina M. Wall, a logistics management specialist with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, saw her son for the first time in two years March 6 on Ramstein.
Christina’s son, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Steven C. Wall, a fuel systems craftsman assigned to 55th Maintenance Squadron, was deploying to the Central Command theater of operations from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., when he found out he would have a brief layover at Ramstein, only a short drive from where his mother works. He had to let her know.
“We’ve actually tried to do this before,” Steven said. “I was on my way over for a previous deployment, but it didn’t work. Somehow, I knew my mom would make it work.”
Christina knew the flight her son was on and made it to the terminal in plenty of time, but as the plane arrived and passengers began departing, she did not see her son. After asking members of the terminal staff, someone went to another area in the airport and found Steven. As soon as he came into her view, her excitement was apparent.
“When I saw him coming toward me I was so excited to finally see him again,” Christina said. “I especially love seeing him in uniform and seeing our family name on his chest. If his father were with us, I know he would be so proud to see his son in uniform.”
After the initial hug, Christina handed her son two large bags full of German sandwiches and desserts for his long trip.
“Steven loves German food because he grew up here,” Christina said. “We lived here as a family when his father and I were both in the Army.”
Over the next 20 minutes, Steven and Christina enjoyed a brief walk together. They talked about his family, how his children were doing, what he would do while he was deployed and even a present she bought for when he returns, a BMW.
“I bought this car for myself when I first got to Germany and it needed some work,” she said. “Now that it is all fixed up, I want to give it to my son as a present when he gets back from this deployment.”
Both parties wish they could have spent a little more time together.
“I always wish I could spend more time with him, but I am thankful I got to see him at all,” Christina said.
They both walked back toward the terminal as their time together came to a close. Steven hugged his mother and thanked her again for coming and visiting him at the airport. As Christina watched her son walk away, she left him with one final statement.
“I’m proud of you, Steven,” she said.
