Fort Campbell, KY – Late on Tuesday night 167 soldiers with the 326th Engineer Battalion returned to Fort Campbell after a year long deployment to Irag.
Family and friends gathered inside Hanger 3 at Campbell Army Airfield as they awaited the return of their loved ones. When the plane was 15 minutes away an announcement was made, and most of the familiy members made their way outside to watch as plane touched down.
After deplaning as the soldiers walked slowly to the hanger; every soldier’s eyes were focused on the crowd searching for their loved ones, but with the darkness acting as a cloak it wasn’t easy. The crowd was doing the same, and as those in the crowd spotted their soldier, they shouted out his or her name to attract their attention.
When the soldiers had passed, the families returned into the hanger to take part in the short ceremony that was all that stood between them and their loved ones.
The Ceremony begins with the opening of the hanger door. The soldiers march into the facility as those in the crowd cheer wildly for them. There is a brief ceremony consisting of a short prayer of thanks for their return, followed by remarks from Maj. Gen. James McConville, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division; who when possible personally welcomes the returning soldiers back home. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Soldiers are given 20 minutes of family time which enables them to begin the reunification process with their families.
It’s quite a sight to see as these brave warriors rock hard demeanor melt when they hold their children, and kiss their mothers, wives, or girlfriends for the first time in a year. Believe me, there is never a dry eye in the house.
One of those soldiers was SFC Roy Ipatzi who was greeted home by his four sons. Lance, Darius, Isaac and Wyatt. They were very excited by their daddies return. They look forward to wrestling with him visiting with family now that he is home.
After the visitation time is over the soldiers form back up, the soldiers march from the hanger en masse and board buses to go to their unit to turn in weapons and other sensitive items.
The soldier’s families are then given a short brief on reintegration issues, and then returned to their vehicles. to go pick up their loved ones once their turn-in was complete.