KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - After spending a year in Iraq, Soldiers from the 66th Transportation Company, 39th Transportation Battalion, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, were reunited with their loved ones during a redeployment ceremony at the Kleber Gymnasium Jan. 10.
When the unit landed at Ramstein Air Base that night, leaders from the 21st TSC were already waiting to greet them. Additionally, everyone worked hard to process the Soldiers through customs as quickly as possible. Despite the late hour, smiling faces were plentiful as the troops looked forward to seeing their friends and family again.
"It's great to be back," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Holman, a truck driver with the 66th Trans. Co., who served as the logistics convoy commander while deployed. "I've been on rapid deployments and haven't been able to see my son (three-year-old Nehemiah) a lot. It's great to be able to spend more time with family."
As soon as the Soldiers were released at the end of the ceremony, family members ran to greet their troops. They exchanged hugs, some tears flowed and children clung to their returning parents.
When asked about plans for the near future, many Soldiers expressed a desire to travel.
"I would like to travel some more," said Spc. John Henderson, a truck driver with the 66th Trans. Co. "I've been in Germany for two and a half years, and there are still some places that I haven't gone to yet. I still need to go to Italy and Spain before I go back to the States."
The 66th Trans. Co. deployed last January to southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit deployed with 148 personnel and suffered no casualties.
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