Stryker Brigade News: First wave of Strykers returns

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First wave of Strykers returns

Jun-21-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, Staff Writer

When Melissa Harmon asked her husband by phone last week if there was anything special he wanted when he returned from a year in Iraq, he had one request.

"The only thing he said is there better be a 12-pack of Killian's in the fridge," she said.

By Tuesday morning, the beer was chilling, the house was clean and Melissa and her 5-year-old son, Gavynn, had nothing to do but wait. Melissa hadn't told Gavynn his dad was coming home later that night.

And at 11 p.m., Staff Sgt. Craig Harmon, along with 178 members of the advance party of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team arrived in Fairbanks after nearly 12 months in the Middle East and the largest deployment of Alaska-based forces since Vietnam.

Families gathered on Fort Wainwright to wait for the soldiers to be bused from Eielson Air Force Base, where they had landed a few hours earlier. Some families were sporting new outfits and hairdos, holding handmade signs and cameras at the ready. As the buses pulled up, cheers went up and continued until the soldiers marched into formation and were dismissed and families swarmed forward.

"Let's go get my daddy," one small boy yelled, pulling his mom forward.

Melissa and Gavynn quickly found Craig, who scooped his son onto his shoulders. He said Gavynn looked different from when he last saw him in November while home on leave.

"About six inches different," he said.

Capt. Seth Smallwood, like most of the soldiers, looked tired from a long flight but content to be home.

"This is great," he said motioning to the crowd. "A little overwhelming."[...]

Comments For "First wave of Strykers returns":

This is awsome!!!!! Praise god. Welcome home soldiers, Our son is A.Co. 2-1 and will be home on one of the 11 flights. Thank you all for your service, Godspeed. Enjoy your loved ones.

Posted by: StrykerB"SMOM | June 21, 2006 7:04 AM