Stacy O’Grady clasped her hands in prayer and pressed them tightly against her lips as the elegant blue-and-white jet taxied slowly toward her.
Oblivious to the crowd and the hot wind off the runway that rustled her dress, her eyes brimmed with anguish as the whine of the engines grew louder, bringing her “miracle” closer and closer.
Hurry, darn it, hurry, her face seemed to say. Finally, the jet stopped, and its engines shut down. Its front door opened. And there in the black oval of the doorway, appeared a pale, slim man: A frail-looking vision in a green jump suit and black boots. It was her wonder, her gift. It was her brother, Scott.
After an agonizing test of faith and hope, and a week of hiding from Serb fighters in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Air Force Capt. Scott F. O’Grady, 29, was returned Sunday afternoon to his family and his country-largely by the grace of God, he said, but aided and abetted by the U.S. Marines.
Ten days after his F-16C fighter was blasted apart by a Serbian missile 21,000 feet over northwestern Bosnia, a wobbly looking O’Grady arrived at Andrews Air Force Base to an emotional homecoming from family, friends and fellow citizens.
The small Air Force C-20 executive-type jet that carried him from Europe touched down as an Air Force band struck up the “Queen City” march and scores of family members and well wishers waited with flags and flowers in welcome.
It was a proud and joyous reunion. But O’Grady’s return also is raising questions about long-term U.S. policy in Bosnia and how it’s being executed.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that intelligence about the appearance of Serb missile batteries in the area hadn’t been passed to O’Grady and his fellow NATO aviators, who were flying without missile-suppression defenses. White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta said the Pentagon is looking into the matter “to make sure that we do not repeat any possible mistakes.”
But for the moment, that was in the background as the jet slowly made its way to the greeting area where Stacy, 26, waited with O’Grady’s parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends. Family members clung to each other, hands clenched, weeping, as the jet neared.
They were led to the aircraft’s steps by Air Force Chief of Staff Ronald Fogleman. He was first to greet O’Grady, as the pilot came down. They exchanged crisp salutes. Then O’Grady was engulfed by his relatives.
