FORT CARSON, Colo.---Fort Carson welcomed home the first two waves of Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during ceremonies held at the Special Events Center April 28 and May 3.
The 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., has been supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for the past year, assisting the Afghanistan national army with security, governance and peace keeping operations in the Kunar province.
"They operated right on the Pakistani border in (an) incredibly challenging and difficult environment, and today what we are doing is welcoming (them) home," said Brig. Gen. James Pasquarette, deputy commanding general for support, 4th Inf. Div.
Many times the people who attend these events are either Family members or spouses of the returning Soldiers. For single Soldiers, this can sometimes mean they have no one waiting for them when they get home.
This was not the case for Spc. Jacob Bird, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., who had a group of friends come out to welcome him home.
"He's our friend and he's a single Soldier, and we just wanted to come out and support him and have someone here to welcome him," said Sasha Jones.
"We're here to welcome the first of our boys home and we're really excited to have the rest of our unit coming in soon," she said.
Another of Bird's friends said she was proud of him and all the Soldiers who go to war.
"We're all Family and to me, Soldier's who can't have people here, I'd rather be here for them so they're not here alone," said Danielle Cantrell.
Pasquarette also said these men were essential to the entire Iraqi operation, and was proud to be there when they returned.
"The 4th BCT was critical to the whole campaign. (This) is what the nation has asked them to do, and they've performed fantastically well," he said.
These are the first two groups of Soldiers from the 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., to redeploy. The rest of the approximately 3,500 Soldiers from the unit will be arriving in staggered groups through the coming weeks.
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