FORT STEWART, Ga. - May 25 was Memorial Day, and while many of us were having a cookout or going to a lake, Families and friends of the 10th Transportation Company, 260th Quartermaster Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were welcoming home America's newest war veterans.
"Is this a great way to celebrate Memorial Day or what'" asked Brig. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, 3rd ID deputy commanding general for support. "We are excited to welcome them home. These are our heroes."
The Families and friends in attendance couldn't have agreed more.
Mary Brown, mother of Spc. Adam Brown, 10th Trans. Co., said that she is very excited to see him.
"It's been such a long time!" she said. "I want to grab him, hug him and never let go!"
Zachery Bryant, 5-year-old son of Heather and Pvt. Joshua Bryant, 10th Trans. Co., has a slightly different way of welcoming his father home.
"I'm going to run up and punch him!" he exclaimed. "Go Daddy!"
Heather Bryant went on to say that they still haven't gotten him out of punching his dad in the face, but that they all are tremendously excited to see him.
Some Soldiers, like Staff Sgt. Kenneth Horres, 10th Trans. Co., are seeing their babies for the first time since they were delivered.
"Sean was 13 days old when he left," said Jeanette Horres, wife of Staff Sgt. Horres, of their new baby. "He's seven months now. I just want to hang out and have us enjoy each other's company."
The Soldiers themselves were excited as well to be home after the lengthy deployment.
"It feels amazing," said Spc. Chaise Archer, 10th Trans. Co. "I've been waiting 15 long months for this. It's unbelievable."
The 10th Trans. Co. was deployed for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They drove more than 6.5 million miles from Kuwait throughout Iraq, and they participated in more than 263 missions in 420, said Brig. Gen. Vandal. days.
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