Louisiana Guardsmen return home from deployment

Photo By Sgt. Michael Owens | Members of the Louisiana National Guard's 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group are greeted by family and friends Wednesday, May 12, during a homecoming celebration at the Hammond Army Aviation Support Facility near the Northshore Regional Airport in Hammond, La. The 204th returned from a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

05.12.2010

Story by Sgt. Michael Owens 

Louisiana National Guard

NEW ORLEANS – After a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group returned home Wednesday, May 12, to reunite with loved-ones at the Hammond Army Aviation Support Facility near the Northshore Regional Airport in Hammond, La.

"The Soldiers of the 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group and their families are truly great Americans, and we are grateful to everyone who came out to show their appreciation and gratitude," said Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, the adjutant general of the LANG. "These heroes stepped up to our nation's call to protect our freedoms, many of them on their second deployment or more, which is a testament to their patriotism and sense of duty. I'm proud of what they have accomplished, and it is great to welcome them home."

Approximately 38 Guardsmen were greeted by Governor Bobby Jindal, Landreneau, and other local officials as they stepped off the bus to a crowd of cheering family and friends.

"It's an honor to welcome these heroes home to Louisiana," said Jindal. "They were willing to sacrifice it all by putting their lives on the line to protect our nation's freedom and liberty. We are forever indebted to their service, and their valiant efforts will never be forgotten. My prayers are with the brave Soldiers and Airmen who are overseas today continuing to defend our great nation, and I look forward to welcoming them home upon a safe return."

While Jindal and Landreneau greeted each Guardsman and praised them for their service, family and friends waited anxiously to embrace their Soldiers.

"It has been a long time coming, and I have missed him so much," said Danielle Whitaker, wife of Capt. Robert G. Whitaker of Slidell, La. "As we were driving here, our son kept yelling 'go faster mommy' because he thought we were driving to the war to pick up daddy."

Although away from family and friends, these Guardsmen focused on their jobs and relied heavily on fellow unit members.

"We have worked extremely hard while deployed, and I know that we have made Louisiana proud," said Capt. Whitaker.

While deployed, the 204th provided and operated two airfield operations battalions, one aviation battalion task force, two Air Traffic Service Standardization Elements in Iraq and Afghanistan; and two fixed-wing detachments split between Kuwait and Afghanistan.

The 204th conducted over 1.5 million aircraft movements in support of OIF and OEF, including 340 live medical evacuations and patient movements in southern Iraq and Kuwait.

The 204th TAOG also developed the Army wide standard for airfield lighting which has currently been placed into production and fielding. Additionally, the TAOG headquarters in Kuwait developed the design for the rebuild of Patton Army Heliport at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2010
• Date Posted: 05.13.2010 10:35
• Story ID: 49591
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US