3rd CAB unit returns home from Afghanistan in time for holidays

Photo By Sgt. William Begley | A Soldier is reunited with his family in time for the holidays at a ceremony at Cottrell Field on Fort Stewart Dec. 19. (Photo by Sgt. William Begley, 3rd CAB Public Affairs)  

HINESVILLE, GA, UNITED STATES

12.19.2014

Story by Sgt. William Begley 

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade

FORT STEWART, Ga. – The first Soldiers of Company E, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade to return from Afghanistan made it home in time for the holidays to be reunited with family and friends in a ceremony at Cottrell Field on Fort Stewart Dec. 19.

After a few arrival time changes the Soldiers were given a warm welcome home on the cold morning. Over 40 Soldiers returned from Afghanistan after deploying for six months.

Coming home from his first deployment was Spc. Robert Price, Company E, 3rd CAB. Price is an unmanned aerial vehicle operator for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

“I’m really happy to be back, but I wish the others in my company who stayed behind could be here as well,” Price said.
Jennifer Del Toro, Prices’ mother, was excited to welcome her son home.

“This is amazing I definitely feel very blessed,” Del Toro said with a sigh.

Del Toro said she will be doing a lot of cooking for son as soon as they get home.

“He gave me a lengthy list of things he wants me to fix for him,” Del Toro said with a smile.

“She makes the best homemade lasagna,” Price said.

Another Soldier happy to be home was Spc. Dakota Whaley. An unmanned aerial vehicle systems maintainer, Whaley was greeted by his wife, son and daughter.

“I feel relaxed to be home and I’m just ready to settle down and get in to the groove of things,” Whaley said.

However, Whaley’s wife Brittany has other plans for him.

“It feels really good to have him back,” Brittany said. “We already have the Christmas tree up; we’re just waiting for him to put the star on the top.”

• Date Taken: 12.19.2014
• Date Posted: 01.06.2015 11:18
• Story ID: 151415
• Location: HINESVILLE, GA, US