24th FM Co returns home

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Soldiers of 24th Financial Management Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division, stepped onto Cottrell Field, Oct. 5, to a chorus of cheers and applause after a year-long deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

"It feels amazing to be home," Spc. Billy Stanley said, a commercial vendor services specialist assigned to the 24th FM Co., STB, 3rd Sustainment Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. "It's an indescribable feeling; I'm just looking forward to spending time with my Family."

While deployed, the 24th FM Co. manned 14 finance sites throughout Iraq, providing support to all service members and Department of Defense Civilians, as well as assisting the Iraqis with their banks and infrastructure in preparation for the impending withdrawal.

"The mission was extremely successful," said Maj. Letsy Perez-Marsden, 24th Finance Co. "This was the first time a single Finance company has been responsible for the entire theater."

With their mission successfully completed, the Soldiers will begin the process of reintegrating and reconnecting with their friends and Families.

"I want to take the time to reconnect with my husband and my 18-month-old daughter," said Maj. Perez-Marsden. "I'm looking forward to spending quality time with them and making up for the year that I was away."

The excitement that could be seen in the faces of the Soldiers on the field was matched only by their friends and Family waiting in the stands with homemade signs, balloons and flowers in hand, who rushed the field anxious to embrace their loved ones once again.

"Although we will never forget that we lost one Soldier while deployed, it feels very good to be able to bring the rest of these Soldiers home safely," Maj. Perez-Marsden said. "When you see the Soldiers reunited with their Families, it's an amazing feeling."