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First of 133rd troops touch down in U.S.

Feb-24-2005 » Filed Under: TF Olympia

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By BILL NEMITZ, Portland Press Herald Writer

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — The first wave of soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion returned to U.S. soil late Wednesday, ending a year-long deployment in the often-hostile city of Mosul, Iraq. "It's like a dream come true. It doesn't feel real," said Spc. San Pao of Portland moments after stepping off the chartered MD11 aircraft. "Hopefully we'll wake up tomorrow morning and it will still be real."

The first group of 206 soldiers - 162 from Maine and 44 attached to the 133rd from New York's 204th Engineer Battalion - touched down on the frigid tarmac at Fort Drum's sprawling airport precisely on schedule at 10:37 p.m. Inside a reception building, 16 members of the 10th Mountain Division band greeted them with "The Army Song" and various other marches.

It was the first of three flights that will return the 133rd's 548 men and women to the United States by this weekend. The second flight is expected to arrive early this evening, with a third flight arriving Friday.

Wednesday's contingent included all of Bravo Company, most of Alpha Company and 48 members of the Headquarters Support Company.[...]


Comments For "First of 133rd troops touch down in U.S.":

WELCOME HOME OUR FRIENDS FROM MAINE!!!!

Posted by: Strykeraunt | February 24, 2005 7:13 AM

Welcome home and thank you!

Posted by: Todd | February 24, 2005 4:13 PM

Thank you and may God bless you! Welcome Home! As we wait anxiously for all of our soldiers to return may you treasure the moments you have with your families and friends. May God give you the strength and courage to return to your mission and your families hope for a safe final return!

"Life is not measured by the numbers of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"!

Posted by: strykerfollower | February 24, 2005 6:01 PM

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