• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Peoria aviation company celebrates long-awaited return

The Army National Guard

By Tim Franklin

Release Date: 7/14/2004

Peoria, Ill. - "We just got word they're outside of Champaign." The announcement went out over the loudspeakers and cheers and applause radiated throughout the crowd in reaction to the update provided by the local radio station on the progress of the buses bringing the men and women of Company F, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation home.

Patriotism and pride were in evidence everywhere June 28 as hundreds of family, friends, local residents and fellow Guardsmen filled the aviation hanger in anticipation of welcoming home the returning Soldiers of the Peoria Illinois Army National Guard unit. Like a scene reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting, the crowd was dotted with handmade welcome home signs, American flags of all sizes and a sea of red, white and blue clothing, bunting and streamers.

After nearly 18 months serving their country in harms way in the dangerous Sunni Triangle of Iraq, three coach buses pulled slowly around the corner of the hangar and parked in front of the cheering crowd. One by one the dessert BDU-clad Illinois Guard Soldiers filed off the buses to the sounds of "Stars and Stripes Forever" and were engulfed by loved ones and well-wishers anxious to greet them after the long months of separation. The men and women of "Foxtrot Company" were finally home.

"Wow! We thought this day was never gonna get here," company commander, Maj. Tom Parker told the gathered crowd of family and F Company supporters.

Members of the joint Illinois-Iowa Army National Guard unit were mobilized in February 2003 and a short five days later found themselves on buses bound for mobilization processing at Fort Campbell, Ky. Two months later, they were on duty on the sands and in the skies of Iraq.

Parker said one of the biggest challenges initially was integrating members of the Iowa detachment and developing a working relationship with them. "In a short amount of time we came together and I'll tell you what, they did just a phenomenal job," he said. "We had some difficult times over there, but they all did the job and did it well."

According to Parker, during its 17 months in Iraq the company supported virtually every major U.S. Army unit there, launching more than 1,350 flights, logging over 3,700 flight hours and moving more than 13,500 troops and 4 million pounds of cargo. The fuel section also dispensed more than 1.3 million gallons of aviation fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft. Despite its accomplishments and successes, however, the company did not go unscathed while deployed.

Eight months into their tour in Iraq, the unit experienced tragedy when in November 2003 insurgents shot down one of its CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Sixteen U.S. servicemembers were killed in the incident, including aircrew members 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas of Illinois, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Smith and Sgt. Paul Fisher both of Iowa.

In addition to seeing three of their comrades killed in the line of duty, the F Company Soldiers had to deal with the stress and hardship of having their tour in Iraq extended twice, the most recent extension coming in April of this year.

"We had each other to help us get through it together," commented Pfc. Heather Barrow of Edwards, Ill. "The unit really came together through the hard times."

Barrow, who worked both in flight operations and morale, welfare and recreation while deployed with her unit, said she was overwhelmed at seeing her parents and three sisters there to greet her when she came off the bus back in Peoria. "It's so exciting to see everybody. I can't even describe it. I'm shaking there is just so much emotion right now."

"It actually didn't hit me until I saw the buses," said Jennifer Naven wife of Staff Sgt. Josh Naven about the reunion with her husband. "There aren't any words to describe it."

Among the dignitaries on hand to greet the returning Illinois Guardsmen and welcome them home were Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Springfield) and Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Peoria).

"This hangar is usually filled with helicopters, but today it is filled with happiness," commented Durbin. "After all the telephone calls, after all the e-mails and after all the praying, thank God you are home safe and sound."

LaHood offered a special thanks to the families of F Company's Soldiers for their unwavering support in the face of hardship of separation.

"Despite what you have endured - the loneliness, the wondering and the worrying - you have been stalwarts for these men and women who have served so well," LaHood told the families.

Following the brief ceremony to say thanks to the Land of Lincoln Soldiers and welcome them back home, the loudest cheer of the day erupted throughout the hangar when Parker gave one simple command to his troops in formation . DISMISSED!