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A final farewell to troops

Jul-29-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, News-Miner

Officials touted Thursday's deployment ceremony for the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team at the Fort Wainwright Army Post as the final farewell for the 3,800 soldiers who will begin leaving this weekend for a yearlong tour in Iraq.

But for some, the ceremony was a turning point after 18 months of preparation and worry. In 12 months, the brigade should begin returning to family and friends.

"We don't have to talk about him leaving anymore," Jacqueline Moore said of her husband, a staff sergeant with the brigade. "Now we can talk about him coming home."

Moore was among 2,000 to 3,000 family, friends, dignitaries, community leaders and members of the public who ringed the brigade as its members stood in formation for the ceremony. In all, more than 6,000 people were on hand to mark Alaska's largest deployment since the Vietnam War. [...]


Comments For "A final farewell to troops":

My heart aches for the family and friends of the soldiers of the 172nd, as it was almost one year ago that I was experiencing the exact same emotions as I watched my husband and his commrades in the 1st SBCT leave for Iraq from Ft. Lewis, WA. Good luck, God bless, and know that you have the entire Stryker Family behind you.

Posted by: Mary | July 29, 2005 5:47 AM

Know that we will continue to pray every day for all of you! May God give you all the strength you need to face every day. I know what you will face as I have lived this since last October when our group was sent to Mosul. God speed and may God bless our soldiers!

Posted by: strykerfollower | July 29, 2005 7:05 AM

God Bless you, the Soldiers and the ones that love them.

God Speed.

Posted by: Janie | July 29, 2005 7:50 AM

Go get 'em Artic Wolves!
You are our heros.
Take lots of ice as your heading to Yuma's weather over there.

Mike and Karen Hosko
usmc7680
Yuma, AZ.

Posted by: Mike and Karen | July 29, 2005 8:24 AM

My thoughts and prayers will be with you everyday. Godspeed and God bless you, the unit and the families.
Stryker Mom,
Ellen

Posted by: Ellen Eirk | July 29, 2005 4:40 PM

My husband is currently completing his second tour in Iraq and the words I have lived by each and every day are; this too shall pass. God speed.

Posted by: Stryker Wife | July 29, 2005 11:58 PM

Take Care Be Smart Stay Safe
This is to my son and all of the 172nd Stryker Brigade.

Posted by: shirley l | July 30, 2005 4:41 PM

Thankyou for your courage and service. Know that your country is behind you, we will be praying for your Unit by name. Be strong, be smart, and take care of the person next to you ok? Also keep the mail moving and let us know of any special needs. May God watch over each of you and the cicizens for whos freedom you will secure. God BlessYou

Posted by: John | July 30, 2005 8:02 PM

The 172nd Stryker Brigade will be replacing my son's Brigade in Mosul. We are counting the weeks now until their arrival back home. While I am excited that this long year will be over for us I am also sad that other families will have days and nights of worry ahead. I will continue to visit the Stryker site daily and pray for the safe return of every soldier. They are all our sons.
I was thinking it might be a good idea to compile some kind of list for the families of the 172nd by the families of those who have lived through deployment already. Ideas of things we have sent the guys that they have really enjoyed, for example I made a pillow case out of a home town t-shirt for Justin and had our friends and family sign it. Little things like remind them that people are thinking of them back home. Any other ideas?

Posted by: strykermom 1/5 | July 31, 2005 9:33 AM

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