FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq

By Larry Stevens, FORSCOM Public Affairs OfficeDecember 22, 2011

FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
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FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Dec. 22, 2011) Gen. David M. Rodriguez (second from right), the U.S. Army Forces Command commander, returns a returning Soldier's salute. The North Carolina Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Tommy Bolton, is just behind th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
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FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
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FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Dec. 22, 2011) Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, and Maj. Gen. Rodney O. Anderson, deputy commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, lead the welcoming party into the Pope Field hangar into which Soldiers o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Dec. 22, 2011) Command Sgt. Maj. Darrin J. Bohn, the FORSCOM command sergeant major, tries his hand at leading The Army Ground Forces Band while waiting for the plane to land bringing home Soldiers from Iraq. The FORSCOM band has pe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORSCOM commander welcomes XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Soldiers home from Iraq
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Dec. 22, 2011) The U.S. Army Forces Command commander, Gen. David M. Rodriguez, was on hand today to welcome home Soldiers of the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division, including Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick and Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice, commander and command sergeant major respectively of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

The troops were returning from a deployment in Iraq, where Helmick had served as deputy commanding general for operations, U.S. Forces-Iraq.

"You have set the conditions for Iraq to become a free nation," Gen. Rodriguez told redeployed Soldiers. "And you move all the personnel and equipment out after almost nine years of war. There was nothing easy about that.

He also offered special thanks to the rear detachment units, local community leaders, and the family and friends who helped support those Soldiers from home.

Rodriguez concluded his brief remarks by saying, "Welcome home. Have a happy, safe holiday season. Now let's get on with this celebration."

The Soldiers were then dismissed to enjoy a happy reunion with their loved ones waiting nearby.