Photo By Staff Sgt. Kelly Carlton | Capt. Christine Andersen, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 92nd...... read more read more
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. - More than 70 soldiers in Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, concluded their deployment in Afghanistan, traveling by plane and bus Fort Leonard Wood this weekend in order to be home for the holidays.
Nutter Field House here was filled with families, friends, veterans and comrades of the unit. Brig. Gen. Mark Inch, Military Police Regimental Commandant, joined the homecoming ceremony, briefly speaking to welcome the soldiers back, and thank them for a job well done. Following Inch’s words, Col. Frank Rangel, commander, 4th MEB, offered equally concise sentiments of praise and thankfulness to the soldiers while they stood in formation. Rangel released the unit to their families within minutes of them filing into the ceremony.
The HHD, 92nd, 4th MEB spent the last 11 months conducting a Command and Control mission for six provincial Afghan Police headquarters throughout their area of operation. Their overall mission included police mentorship to as many as 85 AP stations. They were also operationally in charge of an AP Non-commissioned Officer Academy.
Another part of the mission involved HHD working with two subordinate companies, the 870th Military Police Company, and the 527th Military Police Company. Reduction of forces initiatives kept the tour of duty to under the normal 12 month deployment.
Leading the returning soldiers into the ceremony was Lt. Col. Bill Benner, commander, 92nd MP, 4th MEB, who had his wife, Katherine Benner, a native of North Carolina, his parents, William and Donna Benner, and his 91-year-old grandmother, Bernice Benner, waiting for him at the ceremony.
Benner was recently home in October for his rest and relaxation leave, said wife, Katherine Benner.
“We went to Disney World,” said Katherine Benner.
“It feels good to see him,” said the elder William Benner once the formation was released and his son came over to their seats.
Now they’re going to go home, relax, and get ready for Christmas, said William Benner.
Another soldier in HHD, Spc. Desire Fortune, human resources clerk, HHD, 92nd, 4th MEB, was working on communications for the homecoming ceremony and waiting to greet her longtime coworker and friend, Spc. Jack Launit, she said. Launit is a human resources clerk with 92nd MP Bn.
He used to be in the brigade human resources office then volunteered to deploy with the 92nd MP Bn., said Fortune.
Maj. Leslie Desander, human resources officer in charge, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and her daughter, Alexis, were also part of the surprise to greet Launit.
“He used to be my soldier and we gave him up because he wanted to deploy and get that experience,” said Desander.
One of the last to leave Nutter Field House, Capt. Christine Andersen, commander, HHD, 92nd MP Bn., 4th MEB, was greeted at the ceremony by her husband and three children.
This was her second combat deployment, said Andersen, and she spoke about what stood out to her on this tour of duty.
“I think the partnership mission we had, just making sure the soldiers all understood the importance of their mission, and us all making it back home together,” said Andersen, “so it’s especially good when we all make it home for Christmas.”
Just as quickly as Rangel released the unit, Nutter Field House emptied out just as quickly. Soldiers of HHD, 92nd MP Bn., 4th MEB, joined their friends and families and headed out of the doors and into the holidays.
| Date Taken: | 12.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.26.2011 08:51 |
| Story ID: | 81770 |
| Location: | FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 468 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Just in time for the holidays, by SSG Kelly Carlton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT