Photo By Master Sgt. Anthony Florence | Brig. Gen. James Blakenhorn, left, deputy commander of the 335th Signal Command...... read more read more
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Story by Lt. Col. Greg Majewski
FORT BLISS, Texas - The 335th Signal Command (Theater) of East Point, Georgia, welcomed home over 60 soldiers last Sunday at Fort Bliss, Texas, following a successful yearlong deployment supporting rapidly-changing and evolving signal requirements for operations across the Middle East.
The redeployment of Detachment 34 marked a crowning achievement for these signaleers as it represented one of the most diverse group of signal soldiers ever assembled, to include assets from both the 335th Signal Command (Theater) and the 311th Signal Command (Theater) based out of Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
“I believe all soldiers in uniform like to see their senior leaders acknowledge them, praise them, and recognize them for what they have done,” said Brig. Gen. James Blakenhorn, deputy commander of the 335th Signal Command (Theater). “I think it is a fantastic opportunity to give a little back in comparison to what our soldiers give to us.”
During their deployment, the detachment not only supported retrograde activities in Afghanistan, but also had to meet the growing signal requirements for operations in Iraq following the invasion of Islamic extremists out of Syria.
“These guys did an outstanding job,” said Col. Stephen Hager who served as the detachment’s chief of staff. “We went into the deployment thinking it would be easier as we pulled equipment out of Afghanistan; of course, things changed when hostilities broke out in Iraq.”
The commanding general for the 311th Signal Command (Theater), Maj. Gen. Lawrence Brock, a former commander for the 335th Signal Command (Theater), also attended the welcome home ceremony. Brock was the 335th commander when the detachment deployed last year.
Brock said, “The partnership between the signal commands for this detachment does not rest now because the mission is over, but until all soldiers have returned home.”
“The real meaning is how we support our soldiers in helping them reintegrate,” said Brock. “The 335th has been redeploying soldiers for a long time now, so the 311th will work with them to ensure our soldiers get their questions answered as they go home.”
The journey home was extra special for Capt. Jonathon Cecilio, the detachment’s company commander, because El Paso just happened to be his hometown. The return marked an end to his first deployment and a sigh of relief as he stepped off the plane.
“It felt great to get the weight off my shoulders and to be in my hometown,” said Cecilio. “It meant a lot to see the senior leaders there to greet us.”
First Sgt. Karen Hinckson voiced her praise for her team explaining how they met as strangers, but now end their mission with a different sense of pride and accomplishment.
“I did not know these soldiers before we deployed,” said Hinckson. “We have formed some strong bonds over the past year, some which will last a lifetime.”
The return home also marked the end for Maj. Kendra Green’s first tour overseas as the deputy chief of operations. Green said the tour impacted her in ways she could not have imagined.
“I was a little nervous at first, but it was a great deployment, life changing,” said Green. “Now I am looking forward to getting home and holding my son.”
Detachment 34 wraps up their journey with two weeks at Fort Bliss to out-process before they go their separate ways to their home units.
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2015 13:14 |
| Story ID: | 156949 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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