Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment

By 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public AffairsMarch 10, 2014

Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Family members and friends wait anxiously for their Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, during a redeployment ceremony, March 9, after a nine-month deployment in sup... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, to return home, March 9, from a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, stand in formation during a redeployment ceremony, March 9, after a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, greet their loved ones during a redeployment ceremony, March 9, after a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Fr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, greet their loved ones during a redeployment ceremony, March 9, after a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Fr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers return after nine-month Afghanistan deployment
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, greet their loved ones during a redeployment ceremony, March 9, after a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Fr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - More than 60 Soldiers from the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, reunited with their families here yesterday following a nine month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon arriving in Afghanistan, the unit immediately took command of Task Force Hannibal and assumed the responsibility of sustaining U.S. and coalition forces in Regional Command-North. Under 524th leadership, the TF's successes included more than 140 tactical convoys, 900 equipment/supply loads, and four forward operating base closures.

Hundreds of family memebers flooded the unit's parking lot here yesterday, holding homemade welcome home signs, screaming, and waving as the buses arrived with their troops. Some of the smallest crowd members waited to meet their parents for the first time.

"He deployed while we were pregnant," said Kristina Wellman, wife of Spc. Joshua Wellman, the unit's chaplain assistant. "He was there on Skype when I had Evan [five months ago]. We are so excited for him to get home and meet his son for the first time."

Spc. Jose Lopez, an automated logistics specialist with the unit, also held his 2-month-old son, Peyton, for the first time moments after he got off the bus.

"Peyton is our first child, so I know he's been counting down the days to finally hold him," said Larysa Lopez.

The unit's command quickly released the troops into the arms of their families.

The 524th CSSB is part of the 8th TSC, the senior Army logistics command in the Pacific, responsible for logistics and supply for land operations throughout the theater, employing 167 different skill sets, with 35 unique capabilities, to include Military Police, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Army Watercraft, Dive and Engineer operations.

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