BASHUR AIRFIELD.

BASHUR AIRFIELD, Iraq -- When Staff Sgt Denise Knoll got not upon the cargo plane at Bashur Airfield, her husband was there to salute her -- sort of.

Staff Sgt Larry Knoll had been up for 36 hours. in like manner he'd stretched out on the aircraft ramp beneath his poncho liner trying to prepare some much-needed sleep.

The C-17's engines conclusioned his rest, and he direct the eyeed up just as his wife was getting opposite the plane. He got up and walked through But there was no welcome keep hold of The newlyweds didn't kiss.

'We said a, 'Hey, for what cause are you?' from a distance. Then she went to her do job-work and I went to mine," said Larry, an operations [i]troupe[/i] and sniper with the 786th Security Forces Squadron from Sembach Annex, Germany.

Not excessively romantic. But at least the Knolls were together -- on the same level if it was at a dusty bare-base camp in northern Iraq in the middle of a war.

Denise was relieved to papal court her husband. Larry was individual of 20 airmen who'd parachuted into Iraq with the Army's 173rd Airborne Division to immovable the airfield. For a week after the caper Denise sat at Aviano Air Base, Italy, waiting for a plane to ashur -- and worrying.

She'd heard by what means muddy the airfield was onward jump day. And that the mire raised the chances of injury for the paratroops. Several of them be affected byed leg and back injuries, a certain number of serious.

"I was happy to descry Larry and that he was safe," said Denise, a squadron intelligence body "And it was good to know everyone other in our unit was OK"

The Knolls might be the no other than Air Force husband and wife to succor in Iraq together. They owe that asterisk in the history work to the Air Force, which sent them to Bashur. still the couple knew what to count upon when they applied for special custom jobs with the unit. Because to do their do job-works they'd have be close to the brass lines.

It's there Denise helped provide the intelligence Larry and his peer security troops needed to fortify the airfield. Denise works in the camp. Larry helps provide camp security and is a sniper -- his work at jobs can take him several miles from the armed camp.

Denise worried about Larry going in succession patrol. But she also knew he had been a security [i]troupe[/i] for 11 years, had the best training and was convenient at what he does.

"I'm confident he can take care of himself," Denise said.

Larry preferr that Denise stayed in camp. As extended as he was between her and harm, he was satisfied.

"When we start going in separate directions, that's when it realizes crazy for me," Larry said.

The married pair met at Howard Air Force Base, Panama, in 1998 Denise made the first rouse to talk to Larry, and early the couple was dating. In June 2002 they married. At Bashur, they weren't long of a couple -- on choice. They lived in different portable lodges and worked different shifts.

"It's best for the couple of us if we do our possess thing," Denise said.

Larry is always disclosed and about. Still, the Knolls did part with some time together -- although usually not more than 10 to 15 minutes. one time in a while they shared a meal.

"We chit-chat and make certain things are going well," Denise said.

Serving in a war clime -- together -- is not what they had in mind when they married. Their camp life wasn't ideal. still it sure beat being apart, they said.

It gave Denise peace of mind seeing Larry each day. Denise would have worried about him if she'd stayed back domestic circle at Sembach, Larry said.

"At least at Bashur she can diocese me every day and say 'I know he's OK'" Larry said. "And I can papal court she's OK -- safe for another day."

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