Tears streamed down the faces of awaiting family members as soldiers deployed in Iraq for more than a year returned home safely Saturday evening.
A bus carrying five of the 29 soldiers deployed from the U.S. Army Reserve 390th Engineer Company returned to the Army Reserve Center on Bonny Oaks Drive shortly after 8 p.m. The remainder of the soldiers were welcomed by their families earlier in the day in Huntsville, Tenn.
“I don’t know if I can put it in words,” said Spc. Michael Moore after he stepped off the bus and greeted his 5-year-old son, Jaylon. “It’s overwhelming. It’s still all sinking in.”
Spc. Moore, who returned from his second deployment, said what he most looked forward to was seeing his son and spending time with him. Jaylon’s mother, Stephanie Morris, was in tears when she saw Spc. Moore arrive and her son jump into his arms.
The unit spent 15 months deployed in Iraq, where they were involved in building projects and security, said company 1st Sgt. Brian Spangler. The men arrived just in time to spend the Easter holiday with their families.
“We’ll be starting with church and after that we’re having a huge family gathering,” said Spc. Moore’s mother, Vivian Moore, of the family’s holiday plans.
First Sgt. Spangler said being away from family members for the holidays can be tough on soldiers.
“It’s very rough,” he said. “You’re away from your kids, your wife, your loved ones.”
Kristy Vinson said it was a relief to see her husband, Staff Sgt. Damien Vinson, return home. It was his second deployment to Iraq, but she said this one was more difficult on the family since her two children are now 6 and 7 years old and understood that their father was away.
“There’s always a constant worry,” she said. “But with the second deployment I was more informed, there was a higher level of confidence.”
First Sgt. Spangler said the soldiers will have a few weeks to readjust to life in the states, and then there will be a formal welcome home ceremony.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
About half of the U.S. Army Reserve 390th Engineer Company was deployed to Iraq 15 months ago to serve with a company from Hunstville, Tenn. During their time in Iraq, they were involved in building projects and general security. The soldiers returned to the states early Saturday and were with their families by the evening. They should be home for at least five years before facing another deployment.
Source: 390th Engineer Company 1st Sgt. Brian Spangler.