If anything could have made the returning soldiers more eager to get off the bus and be reunited with family and friends, it was the long, long bus ride from Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina.
About 70 soldiers, said to be the last of the First Brigade Combat Team to redeploy, arrived on Fort Stewart Monday. They had waited several days in Kuwait for a flight to Hunter Army Airfield and then decided that taking an available flight to Pope was better than waiting any longer for a flight to Hunter. They were bused to Fort Stewart, arriving about 12:30 to be greeted by a crowd of well wishers on Cottrell Field.
Their commander, Col. John Charlton, was there to greet them and garrison commander Col. Todd Buchs spoke words of thanks and praise. Buchs also thanked the families for their support of their 1st BCT soldiers. "Because of them, you were able to exceed all expectations," Buchs told the soldiers.
The final redeployment brings the number of 1BCT soldiers who came home to more than 3,310.
About 70 soldiers, said to be the last of the First Brigade Combat Team to redeploy, arrived on Fort Stewart Monday. They had waited several days in Kuwait for a flight to Hunter Army Airfield and then decided that taking an available flight to Pope was better than waiting any longer for a flight to Hunter. They were bused to Fort Stewart, arriving about 12:30 to be greeted by a crowd of well wishers on Cottrell Field.
Their commander, Col. John Charlton, was there to greet them and garrison commander Col. Todd Buchs spoke words of thanks and praise. Buchs also thanked the families for their support of their 1st BCT soldiers. "Because of them, you were able to exceed all expectations," Buchs told the soldiers.
The final redeployment brings the number of 1BCT soldiers who came home to more than 3,310.