Courtesy Photo | Maj. Chris Landfried, an operations officer for the 46th Corps Support Group, 1st...... read more read more
By Capt. Sonise Lumbaca, 1st Corps Support Command Public Affairs Office
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Hundreds of family members patiently waited in anticipation to welcome home more than 100 Soldiers of the 46th Corps Support Group, 1st Corps Support Command during a "Welcome Home" ceremony Oct 21 at Pope Air Force Base's Green Ramp.
Among the family members waiting were many children anticipating seeing the safe return of the parent they hadn't seen in six months to a year; depending on when rest and recuperation leave was taken.
"I felt lonely when my dad left," said eight-year-old Da"Mon Johnson, the son of Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey L. Johnson, a logistics specialist. "I was upset when he was deployed."
"This time the boys reacted differently to their father being away," said Pam Johnson, the wife of Sgt. 1st Class Johnson.
Pam Johnson attributes her children's reaction to the fact that they are a little older and understand the difference between father being around and not being there. She has two other boys, Tyrese, age three, and Jaylyn, age two.
"After a certain age, [children] know the difference," Pam said.
Da"Mon said that the biggest thing that he missed during the deployment was working on his homework with his father.
"My daddy helps me with my math and reading. I like when we do my homework," Da"Mon said.
Besides looking forward to doing homework with his father, Da"Mon looks forward to celebrating his ninth birthday next week.
"I am really happy that my dad is here for my birthday," Da"Mon said.
Additionally, Da"Mon anticipates getting his life back to normal. One responsibility he looks forward to giving up is being 'the man of the house".
"I cleaned up the house and watched my brothers," he said.
The oldest son becoming the "man of the house" is something shared by many military sons.
Sixteen-year-old Stephen A. Fogarty Jr. assumed this responsibility when his father, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Fogarty, platoon sergeant and battle noncommissioned officer for the 46th CSG, deployed to Iraq.
"I did a lot of yard work, fixing things around the house, and putting up fence posts," Stephen said.
Unlike Da"Mon, who was upset when his father deployed, Stephen didn't cite any difficulties when his father left. He did miss his father, however, this deployment was easier for he and his younger brother Logan to deal with, he admits.
"[My dad] has been to Korea, Thailand and now Iraq. I'm used to him deploying so, I wasn't too upset," Stephen said.
Stephen looks forward to going home to relax with his family when his father returns.
"We did a lot when my father came home on (rest and recuperation), which wasn't too long ago," Stephen said. "We went out to eat a lot because the food is a little different [in Iraq], so I look forward to just relaxing with my dad."
Courtney Landfried, the twelve-year-old daughter of Maj. Chris Landfried, an operations officer for the 46th CSG, doesn't intend on relaxing when her father comes home.
"We are going to go to a haunted house and have a huge barbeque," she said. "Lot's of our relatives are flying in for it."
The biggest thing that Courtney looks forward to is having a good laugh.
"I haven't had a good laugh in a long time. In our neighborhood they call my dad "Mr. Da Boom" because he is really funny and always makes everyone laugh," Courtney said.
Courtney said that she didn't get to see much of her father before he left, so it was more difficult for her to deal with. She was especially upset because he was going to be gone longer than before.
"When I see him I am going to run up to him and hug him," Courtney said.
As the aircraft carrying the fathers of Da"Mon, Stephen, Courtney and the rest of the members of the 46th CSG lands, the children along with many other families rushed the door of the pax shed to observe their Soldiers exiting the plane they arrived on.
As the Soldiers marched off to the airfield towards the doors of the Green Ramp pax shed, family members cheered them on. Among the cheers were those from children, including Courtney who leaped up and down frantically waving her American flag.
Once the Soldiers were released to their families, Courtney, as earlier predicted, gave her father a hug.
"It is awesome to be home," Landfried said. "[Courtney] has grown so much. Coming home and seeing my family is a big difference than talking to them on the phone."
"I am glad that it is over and am just happy that I am home with my four "Boos" (a pet name Johnson calls his wife and three children)," Johnson said as he held his two-year-old in one arm and hugged his wife with the other. Damon stood next to him, looking up at his father with a large smile on his face.
"I feel a lot better now that he is home," Da"Mon said.
Unlike Johnson, who left his personal homecoming open to whatever his family wanted to do, Fogarty anticipate the relaxing time his son Stephen anticipated.
"We have plans to go to the zoo and the beach," Fogarty said; "plenty of family time to be well spent."
"It's good to be home," was a shared comment stated by each father as they hugged their family.
Members of the 46th CSG deployed in support of OIF III to conduct logistical operations that included combat logistics patrols, vehicle up-armoring and force protection operations.
While in Iraq, the 46th CSG was also responsible for the training of the Iraqi army's 1st Motorized Transportation Regiment, Iraq's first transportation unit under the new government.
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2005 13:05 |
| Story ID: | 3469 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 216 |
| Downloads: | 20 |
This work, Daddy is home!, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
