Back in the USA
The following intially appeaered in the May 10 edition of the Statesboro Herald. (note: I don't think I've ever posted a non-column that I've written, but I thought this turned out to be a good story. Don't worry, my latest column will be here no later than Friday.
FORT STEWART — Bryan Babot gave his wife a memorable anniversary present to celebrate their first year of marriage, even if it was a day late.
He was among the several hundred members of Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Brigade who returned Monday to Fort Stewart after serving nearly a year in Iraq.
Babot and his wife, NaStasha, were married on May 7, 2005, and approximately three weeks later, he was deployed.
"I'm elated to have him back," she said. "It's so great to see him."
Babot was one of between 500 and 600 soldiers from the 648th Engineering Battalion, based in Statesboro, and other units who returned to the United States after serving a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq.
Also among those returning was Chad Perkins, who had several family members there to greet him.
However, there was one person he still can't wait to see.
"I want to spend some time with my son," he said. "I've never seen him before."
Perkins mother, Brenda Alston, said Perkins' son is at Memorial Hospital in Savannah after being born premature.
Alston was one of more than 1,000 family and friends Monday at Cottrell Field on hand to greet the soldiers. Many came with a combination of signs, banners and flags.
She said she there were no words to explain what it felt like in the hours leading up to Perkins' return.
"Happy. Ecstatic. I can't wait to see him," she said as she and other family members waited for the soldiers to arrive from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah.
Tamamara Hunter said she was "on pins and needles" Monday waiting for her boyfriend, Bryan Chavers to come home. "These last few weeks, I've been really nervous and stressful waiting for him," she said.
Making the wait even more difficult for families was the fact that the troops didn't arrive until nearly two hours after they were initially scheduled.
Because the flights of the 648th Engineering Battalion and the 148th unit from Dublin arrived one right after the other, the decision was made to combine the homecoming ceremonies into one event.
"I couldn't sleep last night," said Wanda Shaw, who was waiting on her husband, Johnny Shaw to come home. The extended wait was frustrating, she said.
"That's the Army. You hurry up and wait," she said.
In addition to her husband, Shaw's son is also serving in Iraq. He's scheduled to return in June.
Finally, at approximately 9:50 a.m., several busses with the soldiers drove past the field, leading to cheers and applause from grateful family and friends. The soldiers then lined up in formation and marched onto the field in front of an anxious crowd.
After the playing of the national anthem and the army song and some very brief comments, the soldiers were released and the crowd stormed the field to find their loved ones like fans running on to a basketball court following a big victory.
Lt. Col. Mark Davis, commander of the 648th, said the soldiers served admirably during their tour in Iraq.
"I couldn't be more proud of them and their families should be proud, too," he said.
In addition to seeing family members, there were other aspects of being home that appealed to the soldiers.
"I'm just excited to see grass," said Bryan Babot. "It's not the dirt and sand we've seen for the past year."
As well as rest and relaxation, Davis had another thing on his mind that he was anxious to experience.
"Food other than army food," he said.
Babot's father, Robert, was also among the returning soldiers and he, too, was looking forward to non-army meals.
"The first thing I want to do is relax," he said. "Then I want to go to my mother's and enjoy some good Cuban cooking," he said.
Despite being home from Iraq, the soldiers still have some things to do at Fort Stewart before they can return home for good. However, unlike other units, members of the 648th will be able to commute from Statesboro to Fort Stewart each day, provided they complete the tasks assigned for each day.
They are expected to return to the National Guard Armory within the next five to seven days where they will be released. A police escort from Fort Stewart to Statesboro is planned and plans are being made to have people line the streets of Statesboro as they return to express their appreciation for the job the soldiers did.
A community-wide celebration to allow people to give their thanks in person is currently being planned, but no date has been set yet.
FORT STEWART — Bryan Babot gave his wife a memorable anniversary present to celebrate their first year of marriage, even if it was a day late.
He was among the several hundred members of Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Brigade who returned Monday to Fort Stewart after serving nearly a year in Iraq.
Babot and his wife, NaStasha, were married on May 7, 2005, and approximately three weeks later, he was deployed.
"I'm elated to have him back," she said. "It's so great to see him."
Babot was one of between 500 and 600 soldiers from the 648th Engineering Battalion, based in Statesboro, and other units who returned to the United States after serving a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq.
Also among those returning was Chad Perkins, who had several family members there to greet him.
However, there was one person he still can't wait to see.
"I want to spend some time with my son," he said. "I've never seen him before."
Perkins mother, Brenda Alston, said Perkins' son is at Memorial Hospital in Savannah after being born premature.
Alston was one of more than 1,000 family and friends Monday at Cottrell Field on hand to greet the soldiers. Many came with a combination of signs, banners and flags.
She said she there were no words to explain what it felt like in the hours leading up to Perkins' return.
"Happy. Ecstatic. I can't wait to see him," she said as she and other family members waited for the soldiers to arrive from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah.
Tamamara Hunter said she was "on pins and needles" Monday waiting for her boyfriend, Bryan Chavers to come home. "These last few weeks, I've been really nervous and stressful waiting for him," she said.
Making the wait even more difficult for families was the fact that the troops didn't arrive until nearly two hours after they were initially scheduled.
Because the flights of the 648th Engineering Battalion and the 148th unit from Dublin arrived one right after the other, the decision was made to combine the homecoming ceremonies into one event.
"I couldn't sleep last night," said Wanda Shaw, who was waiting on her husband, Johnny Shaw to come home. The extended wait was frustrating, she said.
"That's the Army. You hurry up and wait," she said.
In addition to her husband, Shaw's son is also serving in Iraq. He's scheduled to return in June.
Finally, at approximately 9:50 a.m., several busses with the soldiers drove past the field, leading to cheers and applause from grateful family and friends. The soldiers then lined up in formation and marched onto the field in front of an anxious crowd.
After the playing of the national anthem and the army song and some very brief comments, the soldiers were released and the crowd stormed the field to find their loved ones like fans running on to a basketball court following a big victory.
Lt. Col. Mark Davis, commander of the 648th, said the soldiers served admirably during their tour in Iraq.
"I couldn't be more proud of them and their families should be proud, too," he said.
In addition to seeing family members, there were other aspects of being home that appealed to the soldiers.
"I'm just excited to see grass," said Bryan Babot. "It's not the dirt and sand we've seen for the past year."
As well as rest and relaxation, Davis had another thing on his mind that he was anxious to experience.
"Food other than army food," he said.
Babot's father, Robert, was also among the returning soldiers and he, too, was looking forward to non-army meals.
"The first thing I want to do is relax," he said. "Then I want to go to my mother's and enjoy some good Cuban cooking," he said.
Despite being home from Iraq, the soldiers still have some things to do at Fort Stewart before they can return home for good. However, unlike other units, members of the 648th will be able to commute from Statesboro to Fort Stewart each day, provided they complete the tasks assigned for each day.
They are expected to return to the National Guard Armory within the next five to seven days where they will be released. A police escort from Fort Stewart to Statesboro is planned and plans are being made to have people line the streets of Statesboro as they return to express their appreciation for the job the soldiers did.
A community-wide celebration to allow people to give their thanks in person is currently being planned, but no date has been set yet.
posted by Luke at 11:11 AM
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