More than 1,000 welcome Guardsmen home

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tina Eichenour | Brooklyn Bruner smiles and waits for her father Spc. Jammie Bruner to return Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, from a nine-month deployment with 113th Support Battalion based in Muncie, Ind. "I came just to see him and give him a hug," said Brooklyn.  

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES

11.28.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Tina Eichenour 

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

By Staff Sgt. Tina R. Griffin
120th Public Affairs Detachment

INDIANAPOLIS – Approximately 1,000 loved ones welcomed the largest group of Indiana Guardsmen home on Friday, Nov. 28, from a nine-month deployment in Iraq with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Returning Soldiers were assigned to one of these five units: 113th Support Battalion based in Muncie, Ind.; Company B, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry based in Martinsville, Ind.; Company C, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry based in Indianapolis; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry based in Fort Wayne, Ind. and Company A, 76th Brigade Special Troops Battalion also based in Winchester, Ind.

The Special Troops Battalion manned the main entry point and provided a quick response team for Contingency Operating Base Q-West.

"We went over there with everyone and came home with everyone," said 1st Sgt. Jeff Caldwell, battle non-commissioned officer stationed at COB Q-west.

While in Iraq 113th Soldiers were responsible for force protection and base defense, and also supported other brigade units with convoy logistics patrols.

Soldiers with Company B provided security for more than 300 combat logistics patrols while travelling more than 500,000 miles.

"The mission went really well," said Cpl. Dwayne Redmon, truck commander from Company B and Indianapolis native. "A lot of accomplishment with the locals, by hauling water, supplies and fuel. We just got everything done."

Company C Soldiers supported the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at COB Q-West and provided security for more than 200 patrols while travelling more than 255,000 miles.

The 293rd Soldiers ran an operations center, and planned, coordinated and tracked logistics patrols across the theater. The company was part of Task Force 1-293rd which completed more than 1,000 missions totaling more than 1,000,000 miles while encountering more than 93 enemy activities such as improvised explosive device detonations, small arms fire, and rocket launched attacks among others.

The loved ones arrived more than two hours early at Stout Field to welcome the Soldiers home. They were filled with excitement and anticipation to see the Soldiers return from Iraq.

Josh Dill, from Muncie, was eagerly waiting for his brother Spc. Dustin Fisher to walk through the hangar door. "I am excited. I haven't seen him in awhile and I am just going to give him a hug," said Dill. "He is strong and it [the deployment] will make him stronger."

Holding signs family members and friends cheered and yelled as the Soldiers entered the airplane hangar at Stout Field in Indianapolis.

"I didn't expect such a big turn out," said Spc. Chris Warfel, a Muncie native from Company A. He was welcomed by 28 family members and is the forth generation to serve in the military.

• Date Taken: 11.28.2008
• Date Posted: 11.25.2008 18:25
• Story ID: 26801
• Location: INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US