The Smith family: Sgt. James “Chip” Smith, Wriley, Teresa, and Ethan
The first of more than 400
troopers of North Georgia's 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry step off the aircraft that brought them from Afghanistan to Truscott Air Terminal and back to home ground. Greeting Cpl. Clay of Dalton's Troop C and his fellow Soldiers is Lt. Col. Michael Fordham, executive officer for Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; Command Sgt. Maj. James Nelson, Georgia Army Guard command sergeant major; and Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard commander.
According to Theresa Smith of Sonoraville, the 108th arrived home at 4:30 a.m. on Monday morning, March 1.
Many Gordon County families made the pilgrimage to Fort Stewart last week to await their loved ones’ arrival.
The 108th's troopers are among the more than 2,000 Citizen-Soldiers who left in June 2009 to spend a year supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to train and mentor the Afghan National army and National Police.
The first wave of solider returned to Georgia Sunday night, with many Calhoun-based soldiers returning Monday morning.
"I think if you ask any one of us, we're really proud of the work we did over there, but someone like me, being back, well it's a great weight off my shoulders," said Sgt. 1st Class Joe Dyer, who leads Troop A of Rome’s third platoon. "As a leader I'm not only concerned about getting the mission done right, I'm concerned about the safety of my Soldiers. I thank the Lord that I'm lucky enough not to have lost anyone over there, and that they're all home now, safe and sound."
After having turned in their weapons, both waves of the 108th boarded buses for the ride to Fort Stewart in Hinesville where they would be met by loved ones and friends waiting to welcome them home on Stewart's Cottrell Parade Field.
It's there that Lt. Col. Randal Simmons, the 108th's commander, reported to Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard commander, that his unit had completed its mission and that it had come home.
"Welcome back to the greatest country in the world, the United States of America, and welcome home," said Britt. "Be proud of what you accomplished while in Afghanistan for you have been more than successful in that mission."
During the ceremony Britt and Col. Woody Radcliff, intelligence officer for Georgia's Joint Forces Headquarters, introduced Donna Blair of Calhoun, and the widow of 1st Sgt. John Blair. The one-time 1-180th Soldier who was the senior enlisted leader of Lawrenceville's Company A, 1st Battalion, 121st
Infantry when he died in combat on June 20, 2009. Donna, who appeared before the crowd of more than 600 and holding an American flag, wiped a tear during the introduction.
In the coming days the 108th will return to Calhoun where friends and family have been busy preparing for their return.
Harley Hendrix, a member of the 108th, has designed a t-shirts will benefit the Officer’s Fund and 108th Memorial Fund. The shirts are available in both long and short sleeve, in both adult and children’s sizes.
The shirts are gray and feature a unique skull design with the words “1st Squadron, 108th Calvary Roughrider, Come What Will.”
“The guys want a sea of gray,” said Harley’s wife, Cathey Hendrix “We need to show that we love them. We’ve had some losses, it’s been a long year and half.”
The cost of the shirt is $15 and can be purchased by visiting the armory on River Street or by calling 706-879-2901, the armory is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday- Saturday.
T-shirts are also on sale at Daylite Donuts.
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