V CORPS ARTILLERY SOLDIERS COME HOME EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER DEPLOYING TO SOUTHWEST ASIA
V Corps Release
Release Date: 2/13/2004
By Spc. Kristopher Joseph V Corps Public Affairs Office
SCHWETZINGEN, Germany -- Enthusiastic families, friends and co-workers were on hand at Tompkins Barracks here this week to greet Soldiers of V Corps Artillery, the command element for the corps' field artillery assets, marking the end of their year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As chance would have it, VCA's homecoming ceremony occurred on the same date it deployed 140 of its soldiers exactly one year ago: Feb. 11. While this homecoming saw the final group of the unit's soldiers return to Germany, 14 VCA Soldiers remained in Southwest Asia conducting port operations to ensure the safe return of their equipment. Those last 14 are expected home in the coming weeks.
"I can be calm now, because he came home safe," said Mia, wife of Spc. David Qutaishat, a fire direction controller for VCA. After greeting his wife and daughter, Latalyia, Qutaishat said that he couldn't be happier about being home.
VCA's commander, Lt. Col. Theodore J. Janosko thanked his soldiers for their efforts and hard work during their deployment. "Today we are very blessed," he said. "Even as we accomplished every mission we were given, the important thing is we all made it back."
During operations in Southwest Asia, VCA fired more than 20,000 missiles, rockets and projectiles, Janosko said.
With roots dating back to the Civil War, VCA is the headquarters that provides command and control for three field artillery brigades.
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