Fort Gillem general welcomes Soldiers home

By Brandon KelleyMay 13, 2011

Fort Gillem general welcomes Soldiers home
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Fort Gillem general welcomes Soldiers home
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Fort Gillem general welcomes Soldiers home
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Solders from the 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) Detachment 25 participated in an April 28 Welcome Home Warrior (WHW) ceremony at Camp Shelby, Miss.

The detachment had just concluded a year-long tour in Kuwait and held the ceremony as part of their week-long demobilization process. Brig. Gen. Craig Bugno, Deputy Commanding General of the 3rd Medical Command, Fort Gillem, was the guest speaker for the event.

Bugno praised the detachment for its many successes while serving as the command and control element for all medical assets in Central Command's area of responsibility. One of the deployment highlights Bugno mentioned was the implementation of several electronic systems and software to aid in the ability to provide better and timelier care for deployed Soldiers.

Another highlight for the detachment, mentioned by Col. Mary Link, Detachment 25 commander, was receiving the Meritorious Unit Citation, an award granted to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds or valorous actions. As part of the ceremony, individual Soldiers also received awards.

Twenty Soldiers were awarded the Meritorious Service medal and nine were promoted. All Soldiers received a WHW award kits.

Kits contained a folded American flag in a wooden display case, a WHW Certificate, a lapel pin and a yellow WHW citizen flag. The deployment was a success for many Soldiers on a personal level - three were married while on R&R and two Solders' wives had babies.

Detachment 25 was comprised of more than 40 soldiers from the Army Reserve. Their deployment to Kuwait has been a recurring mission for 3rd Medical Command detachments since 2007.