Stewart welcomes home first two 3ID units
by Sgt. Sam Hoffman
FORT STEWART, Ga. (Army News Service, June 6, 2003) - The 3rd Infantry Division Band and a field artillery battalion returned to Fort Stewart to the applause of about 1,200 family members and friends the evening of June 3.
1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery and the band were the first 3rd Inf. Div. (Mech.) units to return to Fort Stewart since the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
More than 400 soldiers arrived in two flights to Hunter Army Airfield, where after a sensitive items check (night-vision goggles, weapons) they departed by bus to Fort Stewart.
The first buses arrived at Cottrell Field around 10:30 p.m. and the second wave at close to 1 a.m., both receiving deafening applause from the crowd. Banners and posters revealing the names of soldiers were displayed all along the field, some held up by proud relatives while the bigger ones were hung on special fences built for the ceremony.
Tammy Crosby's brother, Spc. Jason Crump, had been deployed for 10 months.
"I'm just excited to have him home! That's my only brother," she shouted.
Staff Sgt. Terry Middleton's wife, daughter, sister and nephew were all waiting impatiently for his return. Daughter Tara was speechless, but Lauren had many kind words to say.
"We all missed him!" she said. "We're really proud of him!"
Once dismounted from the buses, the soldiers formed up and marched into the center of the field. After a brief welcome from Col. Edwin Marrero, installation chief of staff, and a singing of the Army and "Dog Faced Soldier" songs, they were released to the warm arms of their loved ones.
"(As chief of staff) it complements my task of preparing and deploying (the soldiers) when (by being asked to be the official welcoming party), I am able to be a part of the event that receives them and welcomes them home to families and loved ones," he said. "It's so incredibly emotional!"
Returning soldiers had few words to say, many of them were just too happy being home to even say anything.
"It's just a great day to be here!" said Sgt. 1st Class William Wilson, 1/39 FA, who was among the first soldiers to arrive at Fort Stewart.
1/39 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Craig Finley was swarmed by his wife and children after the dismissal of the formation.
"They did great!" he said referring to his battalion's performance in Iraq.
Commenting about being the first unit returning, thus leaving so many behind, Finley said, "It's bittersweet, but I think the rest of the division will be home soon."
"It's been murder on a mom," said Debra Dever, whose son Spc. Roger Dever was on the second flight.
Unaware of which flight her son would be on, Dever showed up at 8:30 p.m. She was forced to sit by patiently for nearly four hours waiting for him. After the first group left Cottrell Field, Dever picked up someone's discarded sign and using her lipstick, wrote a welcoming message on the reverse side.
It was all a surprise to Roger who didn't know she would be coming.
"I'm just so glad he's home," she said, "He's one of the lucky ones."
In spite of the reunion, family members were still unable to forget the fact that some families would not be welcoming home soldiers.
Tara Middleton said she thought about the 35 division soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.
"They served their country. Their loss is our loss," she said.
(Editor's note: Sgt. Sam Hoffman is a staff writer for the Fort Stewart Frontline newspaper.)
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