More than 130 soldiers returned to Chattanooga this morning for a week of Christmas leave.
The troops have been at Camp Shelby, Miss. training over the last two weeks for an overseas deployment, said Capt. Casey Benzel, commanding officer of the unit.
“We have about six weeks left when we return,” Capt. Benzel said of the unit’s remaining training before the deployment.
Eighty of the soldiers are from the Chattanooga area. The unit is part of the 181st Field Artillery Battalion attached to the Knoxville-based 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Family members hugged soldiers quickly then hauled them away as others waited for rides. Buses left Camp Shelby an hour earlier than expected, so some soldiers were still waiting for rides home at 7:30 a.m.
Spc. Shad Alexander from Pulaski, Tenn. checked his cell phone every few minutes. He was on duty at Fort Sill, Okla. last year and missed Christmas with his 2-year-old son Anderson Blayze Alexander.
“Last year I just sent money, this will be my first year Christmas shopping for him,” he said.
Todd South covers courts and the military for the Times Free Press. He has worked at the paper for three years and previously covered crime and safety in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. Todd’s hometown is Dodge City, Kan. He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq before returning to school for his journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Todd previously worked at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. Contact Todd ...
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