Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tomora Nance | Maleaha Himmons hugs 1st Lt. Benjamin Owen, an officer with Field Artillery Squadron...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – Some would say it’s the most wonderful time of the year when people start to enjoy eating gingerbread cookies, drinking hot chocolate, looking at festive decorations, gathering with family, and of course--gift exchange.
Well, many families received the best gift of all Dec. 9.
More than 220 Soldiers from 3rd Cavalry Regiment “Brave Rifles” redeployed here two months early from a nine-month rotation to Afghanistan in support of operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Resolute Support. A majority of Troopers served in the eastern region of the country as the foundation of Train, Advise, Assist, Command-East.
This was the regiment’s second deployment to this region of Afghanistan in a three year time frame.
After arriving at Robert Gray Army Airfield, the Soldiers loaded onto several buses and headed to the Starker Physical Fitness Center. From the very moment the recently deployed Soldiers entered into the gym, the crowd of excited family members and friends holding balloons and various decorated signs erupted with applause.
One of the people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Soldiers was Maleaha Himmons. She scanned the formation of Soldiers in search of 1st Lt. Benjamin Owen, an officer with Field Artillery Squadron “Steel,” 3rd Cav. Regt.
“It truly is the most wonderful time of the year; I’m so excited to have him finally home,” said Himmons as she held her three week old son, Carter, in her arms. “This is the first time he gets to meet his son.”
As the Soldiers stood in formation before the crowd of loved ones, Col. James Gallivan, the 1st Cavalry Division home station commander, gave a short welcome home speech to the soldiers and released them to their families with a count down.
Three… Two… One… “Charge!”
The crowd dashed from the bleachers to greet their loved ones. The room was filled with laughter and tears of joy.
After a few seconds of scouring the crowd, Owen found Himmons and their son, and immediately embraced them in a hug. Himmons carefully handed their son to Owen, and for the first time Owen held his son.
“It feels great to be home,” said Owen as he looked down at his son. “While I was deployed, I saw my son, but the feeling I get by actually holding him in my arms is indescribable; there’s so many emotions wrapped up into one: excitement, nervousness, joy to name a few.”
Owen continued, “We have a nice little plan drawn up to surprise both of our families for the holidays because they don’t know I’m home yet.”
Although the Brave Rifles mission isn’t complete until February 2017, about 500 Brave Rifles Troopers are expected to return home early--just in time for the holidays.
“I can enjoy this Christmas with my family and the newest addition,” said Owen.
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2016 00:47 |
| Story ID: | 217743 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Home in time for holidays: Brave Rifles redeploy early from Afghanistan, by SFC Tomora Nance, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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