Cathey Hendrix has been waiting for over a year for her soldier to return, and on Tuesday, March 9 he will do just that.

“I am so excited, the soldiers are so excited,” Hendrix said.

The 108th Cavalry has been deployed to Afghanistan for more than 18 months, and is scheduled to return to Calhoun at 1:30 p.m. on March 9. The announcement on the return of the 108th came at 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

The unit will unload their buses at the old Justin’s Dodge location on highway 53. The soldiers will then climb aboard flat bed trucks and enter the parade route.

The parade will run down to 41 and through downtown to West Line Street and then to the armory.



View 108th soldiers' homeward route in a larger map

“I hope everybody shows up in force,” Hendrix said

Hendrix said she is working with local schools to have March 9 be an early release day so students can see the parade and greet the soldiers.

Hendrix is encouraging all Gordon County residents to hand American flags and yellow ribbons.

Hendrix’s husband, 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 Cavalry Roughrider, Come What Will.”

“The guys want a sea of gray,” Cathey Hendrix told the Calhoun Times last month. “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 Daylight Donuts.