Photo By 2nd Lt. SALLY BULQUERIN | Members from the 376th Human Resources Company are welcomed home during a redeployment...... read more read more
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BELL, Calif. – Members from the 376th Human Resources Company were welcomed home by Brig. Gen. (P) Scottie Carpenter, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command commanding general, in a redeployment ceremony at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Bell, California, Dec. 6.
Soldiers, families, friends and community members gathered together to celebrate the homecoming of 11 Soldiers who served a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
Late Saturday evening, Soldiers from the 376th HR Company, Tango Echo platoon, arrived at the Los Angeles Airport and traveled to the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Bell, where they were greeted and recognized in a welcome home ceremony.
Holding signs and balloons, family members waited anxiously and eagerly for their arrival. Sylvia Pena, mother of Staff Sgt. Jose Pena, said, "I feel excited for him to come home. We love him so much and we've missed him a lot."
Tango Echo, a platoon of 18 personnel, had been deployed to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror and Operation Enduring Freedom for nine months since February 2014.
The 376th HR Company was the first human resources company to run postal operations throughout the entire theater in Afghanistan.
"We were in charge of postal operations for the entire theater. We ran 25 postal offices, shut them down and employed Express Postal Rodeos. We also processed over 2,500 pounds of mail," said Capt. Daniel Hernandez, platoon commanding officer.
Prior to 2014, the country was operating with two HR companies, one in the south and the other one in the east. During the past nine months, the 376th HR Company, with the support of its postal platoons, was able to restructure postal operations in support of the Resolute Support Mission without any delay of mail or degradation of customer service.
"I want you to take pride in what you've done. No matter how insignificant you thought it was,” said Lt. Col. Stuart Werner, 371st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commanding officer. “You have done something only 1 percent of this country can say they've done. And, you are part of that top 1 percent. I need you to carry that pride forward."
Also in attendance were city of Bell Mayor Nestor Valencia and Brig. Gen. (P) Scottie Carpenter, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, commanding general. Carpenter privately addressed the Soldiers and their families, offering guidance on the transition from deployment back to civilian life.
For their selfless service and sacrifice in support of the Operation Enduring Freedom, Werner and Command Sgt. Maj. Cunningham presented Soldiers with the Warrior Citizen Award. The United States Congress, with the president of the United States, instituted this recognition program specifically for U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and have truly earned the title “Warrior Citizen.”
Four Soldiers also received the Army Achievement Medal for their individual efforts and performance in their respective positions. Werner pinned the medals to their uniforms and awarded them certificates.
In addition to their mission success, Hernandez also shared several highlights of his Soldiers experiences during the deployment. His executive officer, 1st Lt. Susan Padilla, ran the Boston Marathon held in Bagram and was the third female to finish the race. Of the 18 soldiers, 11 received Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals. Also, three of his Soldiers were promoted while deployed; two to sergeant and one to staff sergeant.
For Sgt. Blanca Godinez, this deployment offered a valuable learning experience. Serving two deployments after another, she said, “Every deployment is different.”
However, this was her first as a noncommissioned officer.
She added, “Learned how to manage them and working with other Soldiers [from other units] was hard.”
When asked about her feelings of returning home, she said, “It hasn't hit me yet.”
However, one could not ignore the sheer joy on her face as she embraced her loved ones.
This HR Company, with the support of its battalion and brigade, was able to refine operations to man the delivery of mail more efficiently for its Soldiers, DOD contractors and coalition forces who were authorized to use Postal Services.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2014 17:02 |
| Story ID: | 150005 |
| Location: | BELL, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 613 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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