Photo By Maj. Will Cox | Family, friends and coworkers gathered to welcome home 200 Georgia Guardsmen with the...... read more read more
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MACON, Ga. – Family, friends and coworkers gathered to welcome home 200 Georgia Guardsmen with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) from Afghanistan Tuesday, Sept. 16 in Macon, Ga. The 48th IBCT conducted some of the largest and most complex transfers of installations in Afghanistan to date during their 9 month deployment.
“We were able to close three camps as part of the downsizing of the U.S. footprint in Afghanistan,” said Col. Randall Simmons, Commander 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “Our forces responded to any major incidents happening in the city of Kabul while we were there.”
It was all smiles and tears of joy as wives, husbands, fathers, mothers and children of Guardsmen came to reunite with their loved one.
“I’d wait for him forever but 246 days was long enough,” said Catherine Clark, wife of a returning Georgia Guardsman. “That’s how long it has been since I have seen my husband, so I am very excited. It has been a whirl wind of emotions for the last 9 months and I am glad to be reunited with him again.”
“This was a long time coming,” said 1st Lt. Michael Carlson. “The 48th IBCT did a great job and accomplished the mission, but we could not have done it without the support of our family.”
Like the Soldiers, family members were glad the wait was over, including the anxious nights.
“Because there is always a threat over there, it is never safe. So I always had concerns and worries,” said Bailey Smith, wife of Capt. Jared Smith. “I have a very good support system, if I had a problem my family was right there to help me out.”
“I am very excited to get him back,” said Hillery Cecil, wife of 1st Lt. Casey Cecil. “Just having him back in the house and feeling his presence is all I want right now.”
Hillery had a few tips for successfully negotiating the separation of a deployment. The first was to stay active.
“I was super busy with my job and our two children,” said Hillery. “Being responsible for two little lives did not give me a lot of time to focus on how much I missed him.”
Hillery also highlighted the importance of staying connected to your community.
“My neighbors were so faithful to help our family throughout the deployment,” said Hillery. “Everyday someone was doing something for us, whether it was mowing the grass, fixing us dinner, washing our car or even taking out the trash. I have great neighbors. It was really sweet that they took the time out of their busy day to help us when we needed it.”
Hillery emphasized the importance of connecting with other spouses that were going through or have gone through a deployment that could understand what she was feeling.
“I made some really good friends in the unit’s family readiness group and when we got together it was great to share,” said Hillery. “Staying busy, having community and knowing when to ask for help is what got me through this deployment successfully.”
After the short ceremony, hugs were shared with family and Soldiers introduced lifelong friends that they made on the deployment with their family. Finally every Soldier gladly accepted their next mission to reintegrate back into their civilian and family lives.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2014 15:20 |
| Story ID: | 142441 |
| Location: | MACON, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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