LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany - Speeches were interrupted by the sounds of crying babies and restless kids, but no one minded - they were entitled.
Their moms and dads had just marched into the gym where they stood in formation, only moments away from officially ending a 15-month deployment to Iraq by 51 Soldiers from the 464th Medical Company (Dental Services) at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
But first, hugs and kisses would commence officially when Specialist Jason Cummings was summoned in front of the formation where he was reunited with his wife, Specialist Elizabeth Cummings, also assigned to the 464th. As the youngest couple in the company, the two Soldiers were given the honor of the first welcome home hug and kiss, an act quickly followed in the gym by the home crowd.
For Elizabeth, the family separation encompassed many of the travails experienced by most spouses of deployed spouses, and most of them for the first time by the 23-year-old generator mechanic.
Her plan for getting out of the Army in July 2008 was postponed because of Stop-Loss, so when Jason deployed in May 2008, Elizabeth was left holding down the fort with 7-week-old daughter Julia, 6-year-old stepson Jordan, and an Army career requiring TDYs and trips to the field.
"It was a big adjustment becoming a single parent for the first time," Elizabeth said while waiting for the 464th to arrive from nearby Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where they had landed a few hours prior. "I had to take on both roles as mother and father. I had to make decisions on my own the best I could."
But like her fellow Soldiers and other spouses of deployed servicemembers, Elizabeth said she made the adjustment and ended up as a more independent person and a "Jack of all trades, master of none" as mom, nurse, doc and other careers as needed.
Elizabeth gives huge credit for helping her along the way to coworkers, neighbors, and her daycare provider, Helen Walters, who she said was like a second mother to her. "It feels like I have family here."
Her coworkers were 14 Soldiers from the 464th who kept the company going at LRMC during the past 15 months. Like Elizabeth, Capt. Cathy Laws said they met the challenge head-on. "It could have been disastrous but they did an exceptional job," said the executive officer for the 464th.
There was one adjustment, however, that came with ease. Being with family again is a welcomed change from deployment life that Jason Cummings quickly warmed up to with his wife and children.
"It's amazing, it really is," he said just moments after the family reunited. The family kept in contact by Skyping daily, but nothing replaces being there.
"It seems surreal right now," Jason said with daughter Julia sitting in his arms. "It didn't seem like this day would ever come."
The 464th Medical Company (Dental Services) is a rapidly deployable dental company. In addition to dentists and dental technicians, the company is comprised of support personnel in order to sustain and defend itself in any environment.
LRMC, which falls under the command of Europe Regional Medical Command, is the largest American hospital outside of the United States and is verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level II Trauma Center, making it the only U.S. medical facility overseas to hold that distinction, and only one of three in the Department of Defense. LRMC provides primary care, tertiary care, hospitalization and treatment for more than 245,000 U.S. military personnel and their families within the European Command. It is also the evacuation and treatment center for all injured U.S. servicemembers, contractors and members of 44 coalition forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, treating more than 56,000 since January 2004.
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