Bavarian Dustoff Soldiers receive a heroic welcome home

By Sgt. Thomas MortMarch 5, 2015

C-CO Soldier Proposes during redeployment ceremony
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Jeffrey Karnes, a UH-60 (blackhawk) helicopter repairer from Charlie Company, 5-158th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, drops to his knee and surprises his girlfriend with a marriage proposal as his company waits ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. McFadden welcomes family members
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Family members welcome their soldier
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Family members from Charlie Company, 5-158th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, await the arrival of their Soldier after a nine-month deployment February 6, 2015 during a redeployment ceremony in hangar four at Katterba... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
C-CO 5-158 Soldiers await release to their families
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Family members reunite after a long wait
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Thomas Barth, platoon leader for 1st platoon, Charlie Company, 5-158th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and his wife Stephanie Barth, Family Readiness Group Representative for 5-158, reunite for the first time i... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family members pose with their newly arrived Soldier
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Curtis Evick, company commander, Charlie Company, 5-158th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade reunites with his family after a four-month deployment February 6, 2015 during a redeployment ceremony in hangar four at ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KATTERBACH, GERMANY -- The MC whoops and hollers to get the anxious crowd on their feet, as he receives word that the Soldiers are waiting outside.

"YES, everybody stand up and start clapping, let's make some noise!" hollered 1st Lt. William Mcginnis, the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense officer for 5-158th Aviation Regiment.

The large doors slowly open, as the "Army Strong" song echoes in the background. The noise of the gathered family and soldiers turns deafening as the soldiers of Charlie Company, 5-158th Aviation Regiment, march into Hangar Four and take their place in front of the waiting crowd.

For Sgt. Jeffrey Karnes, a UH-60 (Blackhawk) helicopter repairer, this is no typical redeployment ceremony. He has been chosen as the winner of Charlie Company's "First Kiss" raffle.

"Can Sgt. Karnes and his girlfriend meet me in front please?" requests Mcginnis.

As Karnes and his girlfriend anxiously meet in front, she is surprised and overjoyed when he drops to his knee.

"Will you marry me?" he asks.

She cups her hands around her crying face and nods her response.

After a long embrace by Karnes and his fiancée, the Charlie Company Commander, Capt. Curtis Evick reports to Lt. Col. Michael S. McFadden, the battalion commander, signifying the end of a nine-month deployment for the Soldiers.

As the ceremony concludes, the Soldiers are released to reunite with their family and friends. Stephanie Barth said she is "super excited" she finally gets to see her husband, Capt. Thomas Barth, the platoon leader for 1st platoon in Charlie Company, after months of waiting. Now that her husband is back, she says they plan to take a little time off and hopefully see some sites in Ireland and Scotland.

"We are ready to enjoy some much needed vacation", said Mrs. Barth.

During the deployment, the Charlie Company flew over 1900 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Resolute Support Mission, according to Capt. Michael J. Baldi, the unit operations officer. The Company was spread from the North, West, Southwest and South Train Advice and Assist (TAAC-N, TAAC-W, TAAC-SW, and TAAC-S.

At its peak Charlie Company was responsible for medical evacuation coverage (MEDEVAC) at five different sites -- Forward Operating Base Khelegay, Mazar-e-Sharif and Bastion as well as Air Bases Herat and Shindand. The Company closed down three major bases (Khelegay, Shindand, Bastion) and were the final US MEDEVAC assets. They also shut down operations at two (Mazar-e-sharif, Heart) bases without a single drop in MEDEVAC coverage while conducting 38 life saving MEDEVAC missions.

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