Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Powell | Col. (Promotable) John H. Phillips, commander, 451st Sustainment Command...... read more read more
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North Fort Hood, Texas – Throughout history many have said, “there’s no place like home,” and those words certainly rang true for 24 Army Reserve Soldiers who returned here Aug. 2-3 from a nine-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
The Soldiers, from Detachment 11, 335th Signal Command (Theater), headquartered in East Point, Georgia, deployed to Afghanistan in November 2015 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission comprised of providing, maintaining, repairing and establishing electronic communications throughout the Afghan theater of operations.
Now, with the mission successfully behind them, the Soldiers were officially welcomed home by Col. (Promotable) John H. Phillips, commander, 451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and Sgt. Maj. Maureen Simpkins, G-3 operations sergeant major, 335th SC (T), during a welcome home warrior citizen ceremony here Aug. 3.
The ceremony is part of the Welcome Home Warrior Program designed to recognize each Army Reserve Soldier who has served in the Global War on Terrorism either in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The program’s goal is to provide an appropriate, timely and enduring memento to Soldiers and their families to convey in a small way the nation’s gratitude for their selfless service and sacrifice.
“On behalf of Brig. Gen. Christopher Kemp, commanding general of the 335th Signal Command (Theater), I want to thank you for what you have done,” said Phillips. “I ask that you also take time to thank your mom, dad, husband, wife and children for their support and sacrifices as well. I think sometimes their job is tougher than ours.”
Simpkins also took the opportunity to address the returning warriors. “It’s an honor to welcome you all home,” she said. “It’s such a major accomplishment. I know it’s been a long journey like all deployments with the end state being mission accomplishment and getting home safely to your loved ones. Stay safe, keep that good military bearing, and thank you so much for all that you do.”
The ceremony concluded with Phillips presenting each Soldier with an American flag encased in a wooden display, a lapel pin for the Soldier and their spouse, a commemorative coin and a “Welcome Home Warrior Citizen” flag.
In addition to being recognized for their service, the event also gave some of the Soldiers opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments. “I thought this deployment was outstanding,” said Sgt. George E. Greene, a signal support specialist and native of Atlanta, Georgia, assigned to Det. 11, 335th SC (T). “I had been wanting to deploy for a long time for the leadership experience it provides, and I definitely got that opportunity. It showed me I could actually perform at a higher level than I thought possible.”
The group will spend a few days here completing the redeployment and reintegration process before returning to their homes and families and continuing their lives as warrior citizens, proudly serving the Army Reserve and their country.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2016 15:22 |
| Story ID: | 206318 |
| Location: | NORTH FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 458 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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