FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 7, 2016) -- The Fort Benning community welcomed back the 926th Medical Detachment with a redeployment ceremony June 30 in Derby Auditorium.
Before returning to Fort Benning, the 926th Medical Detachment was deployed in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.
The unit uncased their colors to signify their operational readiness at their new station.
"We are here to recognize their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their Families and friends. Those sacrifices are deep, and the glowing reunion with Family and friends are most deserved because they endured almost a year apart," said Col. Cory Costello, the 14th Combat Support Hospital commander.
Costello spoke about the 926th Medical Detachment's mission of ensuring food and water safety, as well as combating diseases.
"They faced diseases of ancient times we don't see here anymore," said Costello.
These diseases included polio, measles and mumps, said Costello.
"They were first to care wherever they went, practicing their technical skills with dignity, caring about the folks they were protecting," said Costello. "They don't get to have off days. They get woken up in the middle of the night. As they say, every day is Monday for them when they're on duty."
Maj. Christopher Hinnerichs, commander of the 926th Preventive Medicine Detachment, explained how the unit's primary mission was to protect Soldiers from environmental threats, which included air and water contamination, insect carrying diseases, radiation exposure and foodborne and communicable diseases.
"With great training, vigilance, support and blessing the accomplishment was made with 100 percent safety," said Hinnerichs. "In closing, I want to touch on the great maturity and growth within the detachment. Individually and collectively they fought and won against the fatigue of a perpetual Monday."
"They tactfully interacted with the coalition partners and professionally chatted with the president of the United States on Christmas Eve," said Hinnerichs.
Hinnerichs thanked his team for their hard work and dedication to the job.
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