380th Engineer Company returns home from Iraq

By Capt Maryjane Porter (412th TEC)December 12, 2011

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1 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Douglas R. Satterfield, deputy commander, 412th Theater Engineer Command, welcomes home the Soldiers of the 380th Engineer Company as they deplaned on Nov. 28, 2011 in Gulfport, Miss. The Greenville-based unit deployed to Iraq earlier this... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Douglas R. Satterfield, deputy commander, 412th Theater Engineer Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven M. Hatchell, 926th Engineer Brigade, welcome home 1st Lt. Eli Candelaria, commander, 380th Engineer Company, and 1st Sgt. Ralph Brown du... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Lt. Ingram conducts a safety briefing for the redeployed Soldiers of the 380th EN CO. The Greenville-based unit arrived at Camp Shelby Nov. 28, 2011 after a 9-month deployment to Iraq. The 79-member team deployed earlier this year in support of ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 380th EN CO Soldiers eager to collect personal belongings and spend time with family members. The Greenville-based unit returned home Nov. 28, 2011 after a 9-month deployment to Iraq. The 79-member team deployed earlier this year in support of Operat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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6 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 380th EN CO Soldiers anxious to turn in equipment and spend time with families. The Greenville-based unit returned home Nov. 28, 2011 after a 9-month deployment to Iraq. The 79-member team deployed earlier this year in support of Operation New Dawn... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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7 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 380th EN CO Soldiers lining up to turn-in sensitive items upon returning from Iraq Nov. 28, 2011. The Greenville-based unit deployed earlier this year in support of Operation New Dawn. The 79-member team deployed earlier this year in support of Oper... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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8 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the 380th Engineer Support Company, U.S. Army Reserves, Greenville, Miss. were welcomed home today at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center by Family and friends after a successful completion of their deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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9 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Kyle Athey of Indianola, Miss., was reunited with his wife, Olivia and eight-month-old daughter, Alli, at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center today after a successful deployment to Iraq as a member of the 380th Engineer Support Company, U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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10 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Brandon Kronberg of Brandon, Miss. holds his five-month-old daughter, Rachel, for the first time since her birth during his rest and recovery leave in June of this year. Wife, Brandi was excited to be reunited with her husband. The couple also h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP SHELBY, Miss- The U. S. Army Reserve's 380th Engineer Company headquartered in Greenville, Miss., returned home Nov. 28, 2011. They arrived at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center to be welcomed by Brig. Gen. Douglas R. Satterfield, Deputy Commander, 412th Theater Engineer Command, Family and friends.

The unit deployed to Iraq earlier this year in support of Operation New Dawn, where they supported the mission of United States Forces in Iraq by maintaining and supporting Iraqi transportation infrastructure and providing horizontal engineer support to coalition contingency out bases, or COBs, through the construction of defensive positions and public works facilities.

A key element of their mission was route sanitation, which involved the clearing of trash, debris and obstacles on roadways in order to deny enemy forces the placement of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

The large amount of IED recoveries recently in Iraq are greatly attributed to the efforts of the 380th ESC, ensuring the freedom of maneuver for U.S. and Coalition Forces traveling along main and alternate supply routes throughout the Iraq Joint Operational Area.

The unit participated in approximately 76 missions inside and outside of the wire to include 30 Combined Arms missions where they accompanied infantry troops to accomplish a mission.

"The morale is very high," said 1st Lt. Eli Candelaria, Commander of the 380th Engineer Support Company, upon the Soldiers arriving home.

The Family members were ecstatic to see their loved ones come home, especially five-month-old Rachel Kronberg and mom Brandi of Brandon, Miss. as they waited for Spc. Brandon Kronberg to arrive home.

"I am very excited that he is coming home. I missed him very much," said Brandi about her husband's return. "We have a two year old boy, Lucas, and he is glad his daddy is coming home."

Dad (Brandon) was just as excited to see his Family and hold his five-month old daughter.

"It is great to be able to hold her again. I only got to spend a week with her after she was born. It brings great joy to my heart to see her again," said Brandon as he held his daughter Rachel for the first time in five months.

Soldiers of the 380th ESC will spend the next few days out processing at CSJFTC in Hattiesburg, then travel home to Greenville to be released from duty to Family and friends.

(Maj. Deidre Musgrave, Camp Shelby Public Affairs -- Released)

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Greenville unit returns from Iraq