FORT SILL, Okla. (Feb. 25, 2016) -- Children played on the gym floor, families took group photos, people chatted and others texted waiting in anticipation.
But, when their Soldiers came through the gym doors, everyone jumped to their feet and cheered,, clapped or cried. Those with signs held them high.
About 100 Soldiers from B Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery returned to Fort Sill, Feb. 22, after a nine-month deployment to Kuwait and Iraq.
Hundreds of family members, fellow Soldiers, veterans, and post and community leaders were at Rinehart Fitness Center at 1 p.m. to welcome them home.
In his invocation, Chaplain (Capt.) Matthew Eddy, 1-14th FA, said: "We want to thank you today oh God, for your almighty hand of protection upon these great warriors as your word tells us that we will find refuge in the shadows of your wings."
Lt. Col. Peter Sittenauer, 1-14th FA commander, praised his Soldiers, whom he called "our nation's newest heroes of veterans."
He said the unit had been deployed only a couple months when they performed their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) mission.
"They did a phenomenal job and displayed utmost professionalism through top-notch confidence, commitment and character," said the lieutenant colonel.
The commander thanked numerous groups, including the installation, the 75th Field Artillery Brigade and 1-14th FA personnel for their support services and training. He also thanked community leaders, and schools for the care packages and letters they sent to the deployed Soldiers.
He credited the B Battery Rear Detachment Family Readiness Group, families and friends "for their resilience, motivational support and can-do attitude to address all those myriad problems that happen during any deployment.
"But most of all the credit goes to the Soldiers you see before us," Sittenauer said. "Regardless of their job, each of them did exceptionally well."
Capt. Jesse Hodge, B/1-14th FA commander, said the deployment went well.
"We got to do our job (HIMARS)," said Hodge, on his first deployment. "The Soldiers performed exceptionally well."
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