Excitement filled the air as hundreds of family members, friends and Fort Bliss officials including the post's commanding general, Maj. Gen. Howard Bromberg, awaited the return of the 978th Military Police Company. The strike of midnight was the magic moment for everyone as the plane opened its doors from where the MPs deplaned to cheering spouses and children.
A welcome home ceremony at the Departure/Arrival Airfield Control Group at Biggs Army Airfield Sunday welcomed the 140-plus Soldiers who returned just shy from a 15-month deployment to Iraq.
"We always remained hopeful that we'd find out that it wouldn't be a full 15 months," said Maj. Randolph Morgan, rear battalion commander of the 978th MP Co. "As it is, they did get a slight curtailment, but not nearly as short as we had hoped."
The 978th is one of the last units that served a nontraditional 15-month deployment, said Morgan. The Army conducted surge operations in Iraq and the units that deployed within a certain window deployed for a 15-month rotation, rather than the traditional 12 months.
Morgan said the 62nd Army Band, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Army Community Service and the United Service Organizations contributed to achieving a meaningful welcome for the Soldiers. A lot of effort went into ensuring the Soldiers would be processed and released to their loved ones in a minimal amount of time, said Morgan.
"Fort Bliss has an excellent operation in conjunction with the folks here at the DAACG and the Mobilization and Deployment Brigade [that did] tremendous work assisting us in preparing this reception," said Morgan.
It was Viviana Saenz's first time attending a welcome home ceremony for her daughter Staff Sgt. Stephanie Cazares of the 978th MP Co. Saenz has two other children serving in the military, and due to their deployments, it had been unworkable for her to assist these homecoming events for any of her children.
"No words can describe [this]," said Saenz. "It's very emotional. I'm very glad she's back. My life changes every time she's deployed because I have to take care of [my grandson]. For him also, it's great to have his mom back."
Stephanie, who just completed her fourth deployment, has a 4-year-old son, Anthony. Her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Juan Carlos Cazares, is currently deployed with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. Stepanie still had about four months left to serve when her husband deployed to Iraq in April.
"It's the fourth time around we have to separate because of deployment, so we're used to it," said Stephanie.
Stephanie said she's grateful that in the past, the deployments coincided and at least one of them remained with her son. This deployment was more challenging due to their joint absence from their son, she said.
"It's the first time that he's been without us for so long," said Stephanie. "Normally we have been lucky to time the deployments where he doesn't stay without one of us, but this time we weren't too successful. He's been away from the both of us for four months. I'm lucky that I have my mother [to take care of him]."
Stephanie said after more than 14 months she is home now and looks forward to reuniting with her son.
"It's crazy because everybody has changed so much," Stephanie said. "Kids are a lot bigger, the feeling is — I can't even describe it."
Morgan said he is really excited to have the 978th MP Co. back home and now anxiously awaits the return of the 93rd MP Battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters and 591st MP companies, which are both still deployed in Iraq.
"Our battalion commander, Lt. Col. Tom Byrd, is still downrange and I know it's a great relief for him to have the 978th back home with us and so many of his Soldiers back home safely after accomplishing their mission," said Morgan.
The 978th MP Co. suffered two casualties during their deployment, Cpls. James M. Hale and Gary L. Moore, who both died of wounds sustained from roadside bombs, August 2008 and March 2009, respectively.
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