Soldiers greeted with an intimate late evening ceremony.
44 members of the 717 EOD Unit part of the 52nd Ordnance Group based at Fort Campbell Kentucky returned home late Sunday evening from a deployment to Afghanistan.
The soldiers were brought to the hanger on a bus after arriving via a military transport plane. As they disembarked the soldiers were personally greeted by Maj. Gen. Frank Wiercinski and his wife. The soldiers then assembled outside the hanger before marching inside for the Welcome Home Ceremony.
Being an EOD soldier is a very tough job. It’s also a dangerous one. You have to not only work with things that go boom, you have to handle enemy explosive devices which have been created with one purpose in mind, to kill or maim our service members. Disarming these devices is not a job for the reckless or faint hearted.
According to Maj. Gen. Frank Wiercinski due to their extensive training and exceptional skill “the unit which left for Afghanistan with 44 members, came back home with all 44 members safe and sound.”
After the short ceremony it was time for some quick family time. One Soldier was witnessed proudly placing his hand on his expectant wife’s clearly bulging belly.
The entire 11,000 member 101st Airborne Division, should be fully home by the end of June.
If you are interested in attending a Welcome Home Ceremony, flights are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Plan to arrive at least 2 hours early. Enter at Gate 7, and follow the signs. Hope to see you there!
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