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Back in the U.S.

Oct-19-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Jerry Jimenez served as a civil affairs sergeant with Task Force Olympia and describes his homecoming in the following column.

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By JERRY JIMENEZ

Well, I'm back in the United States for good. We hopped on a C-17 a week ago and took it all the way to Fort Bragg, N.C., stopping only in Germany to refuel.

A C-17 is a gigantic military aircraft with enough space to play basketball in. Its seats weren't as comfortable as a commercial plane's, but it had a large, open space in the middle, and some soldiers stretched out on the cold metal floor and dozed off -- most likely comforted by the knowledge they were headed home.

It felt weird to walk around the American post in Germany. Of course, the place was secure, but I had left Iraq only a few hours before. As cars passed by in the street, I felt totally exposed without weapons or an infantry platoon near me.

A group of families waving support banners met us when we arrived in Fort Bragg. An Army band played loud, upbeat music and refreshments were served on folding tables.

The families cheered as we walked off the plane, still wearing all of our gear and carrying bags on our backs. I felt proud. It was a wonderful soldier's homecoming.

Ironically, the whole hullabaloo wasn't even for us. It was for a plane landing after ours, which contained the family members of the welcoming party. It would have been nice if our families were there, too, but it was a nice experience anyway. Besides, it gave us a laugh when we found out.

Today, we started a series of briefings aimed at helping us decompress and reunite with family smoothly.

They let us know that everyone at home might be different, how we should take things slowly, and how ups and downs are inevitable. A young, charismatic chaplain -- who was so funny he sounded more like a stand-up comic -- kept reminding us to be patient when we get home.


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