Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana National Guard Master Sgt. Steve Shroyer looks at his wife, Jackie, after...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
Indiana National Guard
INDIANAPOLIS -- They're all back in the heartland.
More than 20 Soldiers with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returned from Iraq on Dec. 8. They were the last of the brigade's more than 3,200 troops to arrive on Hoosier soil.
"I feel so warm tonight to have them all back home," said Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the state's adjutant general. "It's a great feeling here for the holidays."
It took more than a month, from Nov. 5 to Dec. 8, for all the brigade's Soldiers to return from the unit's nine-month deployment in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Yet more Hoosier troops with other units remain deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We still have over 1,200 of our Indiana National Guardsmen, Soldiers and Airmen both, deployed that won't be home for Christmas. My thoughts are with their families," said Maj. Gen. Umbarger who commands more than 15,000 Hoosier service members throughout the state.
The 23 returning Soldiers arrived at the Indianapolis International Airport on three different flights throughout the day, and many were greeted by friends, family and loved ones.
"All the smiles here are for completing the mission and being back with my family," said Spc. Ashley Butler, an operations specialist with the brigade. While in Iraq, Butler helped with base defense and infrastructure. "We made sure everything was up and running," she said.
The Soldiers who arrived on Dec. 8 were instrumental in making sure the other 3,200 troops arrived in Indiana.
"It was a huge accomplishment pushing everybody out and getting them back home," said Butler.
Master Sgt. Steve Schroyer is a transportation noncommissioned officer with the brigade, and was a shipments manager at Camp Atterbury before deploying in March. His work was praised by his leaders and peers.
"He's the guy who knows everything about containers," said Col. Corey Carr, the 76th Brigade commander. "He did a great job." Many of the Soldiers accoutrements are shipped via 6-by-8-by-20-foot containers.
Schroyer's roommate in Iraq agreed with the colonel.
"He was the reason for the containers and all the [76th Brigade] troops coming home," said Command Sgt. Major Paul Crabtree, a logistics sergeant major with the brigade. Schroyer, a 34-year veteran, is scheduled to return to his job at Camp Atterbury. He was one of the first to arrive in theater and one of the last to return to the states.
They may be bringing up the rear, but they'll be home for the holidays even after their briefing and screenings at Camp Atterbury. Many of the family members and Soldiers were happy to be back home for the holiday season.
"My family's getting me with red bows. I'm going to be the best Christmas present ever," said Butler.
The mother of Spc. Stephanie Knue agreed about the returning presents in the form of the Soldiers' timely arrival.
"This is the only thing I wanted for Christmas, and I got it!" said Lottie Wathen of her daughter's return to the heartland.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2008 20:12 |
| Story ID: | 27612 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, US |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 173 |
This work, Hoosiers' 76th Soldiers return home for the holidays, by MSG Jeff Lowry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
