Army Reserve unit returns from Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Spc. Marilind Pulliam, a postal clerk for the 461st Human Resources Company, and Sgt. 1st Class Tracie Haymer, the 502nd postal finance non-commissioned officer, unload packages at Forward Operating Base Orgun E in Afghanistan. The 461st was attached to the 502nd during their deployment overseas.  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

10.10.2008

Story by Spc. Elizabeth Houx 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – Coming together as a team from all over the U.S., seven Soldiers embarked on a deployment that was not like any typical overseas tour.

The 461st Human Resources Company, out of Decatur, Ga., called upon Soldiers from several different states to work as postal clerks throughout Afghanistan. Although they supported the same mission the group did not work together in country.

Spc. Brandon Thompson, a postal clerk for the unit, said that the group was scattered throughout Afghanistan based on where and when they were needed.

"Every day was different," said Thompson. "I never did the same thing."

Thompson said he traveled between several different forward operating bases throughout Afghanistan to set up mobile post offices.

"One day I would be traveling in convoys to get to the destination and other days I would by traveling by helicopter," he said. "We did whatever it took to get mail to the Soldiers over there."

"It was a successful mission," Thompson added. "Getting mail overseas is a morale booster and helping boost spirits made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile."

Thompson's fellow teammate, Staff Sgt. Anthony Atkinson was the non-commissioned officer in charge of postal operations at Forward Operating Base Salerno.

While in Afghanistan, Atkinson said that like Thompson, he traveled between FOBs throughout the area of operations, but he also conducted audit inspections.

"My job overseas was to make sure that people were doing everything right and that the Soldiers were being taken care of and getting mail."

Atkinson said that after a break in service, he rejoined the military in order to deploy and volunteer for the deployment with the 461st.

"It was a successful mission," he said. "Even though we were together at Camp Atterbury more than we were in Afghanistan, everything worked out and we were able to get our jobs done."

Spc. Marilind Pulliam, a mail clerk for the 461st, was another Soldier within the small group who recently returned to the Army Reserve after a break in military service.

"The deployment was a successful challenge to work with younger Soldiers and see how much the Army has changed since I was last in," she said.

In Afghanistan, Pulliam ran the mail room at FOB Orgun E where she processed ingoing and outgoing mail for the Soldiers on base.

Along with working in a position that was a morale booster for other Soldiers, Pulliam took advantage of the deployment for herself.

"It was a lifetime experience," she said. "I got to experience different cultures, food, weather and see things I never thought I would see."

Pulliam said that the deployment was also an eye opener to the lifestyle back in the U.S.

"We had a very basic FOB where I was," she said. "Mail was a huge part of people's lives over there and it really makes you appreciate the things we take for granted back at home."

Pulliam said it was good to work with Soldiers again and she was happy to have been part of the deployment.

"I got to complete a chapter in a book that I never close," Pulliam added.

The 461st returned from Afghanistan earlier this week, and is scheduled to return back to their home states after completing medical out-processing at Camp Atterbury.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2008
• Date Posted: 10.10.2008 15:21
• Story ID: 24809
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US