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Coming Home - 184th returns to hero's welcome!!! Greg's Men!
The Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/17/2006 | By Blair Anthony Robertson and Elizabeth Hume

Posted on 01/17/2006 10:59:47 PM PST by Swordmaker

Hugs, kisses after seeing war up close

The shrieking and shouting, the first signs of tears and trembling hands, began at 1:57 p.m. as men, women and children stood on folding metal chairs Monday to peer over a tall fence onto the tarmac at Sacramento International Airport. . . .

More Pictures

. . . Then came the roar. And more tears - tears of joy and anticipation and frayed nerves. The chartered jet was in view, taxiing toward them.

War-weary California National Guardsmen were arriving after 18 months away from home - a full year of it in the thick of combat in Iraq. The returning guardsmen are members of the Modesto-based 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, which has seen some of the heaviest action and had one of the highest injury tolls of any unit of its kind since the Korean War, authorities said. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: gregparkinson; heroes; iraq; jmpmstr4u2; military; nationalguard; troopsupport; welcomehome
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; jmpmstr4u2; Swordmaker

He's a sight for sore eyes, ain't he?
Ain't you, Greg? We're so glad to have you back in the Golden State, U.S.A.!!
Woo-hoo!!

I want to thank you, Greg, again and again, for what you've done for us.
You are a hero and true patriots appreciate you. Be proud.
I want to also thank your family for bravely enduring the separation and the risk.

Ruth, you really gave me way too much mention there.
I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and am honored to witness to the service and sacrifice of your son.


41 posted on 01/18/2006 3:51:10 PM PST by La Enchiladita (God bless our troops.)
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; jmpmstr4u2; Mama_Bear; JustAmy; jkphoto; Jim Robinson; Justanobody; ...
Welcome Home Greg! Thanks for keeping out Country safe, You Da Man!

RuthE here are a couple of the pictures you took:



I'm not going to say anything about the look on Greg's face, but I do know there is no beer in Iraq...
That is Greg's wife, his Mom, and his Nephew.



Greg's Brother and his Brother's Daughter.



Greg was announced to the restaurant as just returning from Iraq and Crowned King of Heros by the staff! He got a strong round of applause and thanks from many of the folks in the crab joint that afternoon.



If you look closely at the right side of the picture you will see that Greg (ex-cop that he is) busted that guy as having a break-apart cane.

It holds about 200 Ml of Glenfeddich...

Thanks for the pictures SoldiersPrayingMom.

42 posted on 01/18/2006 3:56:01 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Syncro
Great photos Syncro! Thanks for the ping!

Greg and all, look very happy and thankful to be together.

43 posted on 01/18/2006 4:10:40 PM PST by Just A Nobody (I - LOVE - my attitude problem! WBB lives on. Beware the Enemedia.)
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To: Syncro
Thank so much for that ping Syn. What a nice looking family! It looks like everyone was celebrating and having fun. I am so pleased to see Greg in good spirits. He really scared us last month, didn't he?

God bless all of our troops and their families.

44 posted on 01/18/2006 4:38:26 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Embrace peace- Hug an American soldier- the real peace keepers.)
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To: Landry Fan; SoldiersPrayingMom; jmpmstr4u2; Swordmaker

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Welcome home Greg!


45 posted on 01/18/2006 4:40:10 PM PST by PleaDeal (Bill Whittle for Pres. in '08)
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To: Syncro; Swordmaker

Thanks, Syncro!

Thank you, Greg! Wishing you continued joy and love!


46 posted on 01/18/2006 4:53:35 PM PST by Albion Wilde (America will not run, and we will not forget our responsibilities. – George W. Bush)
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To: Swordmaker

Welcome Home Greg and all the 184th! Thank you!


47 posted on 01/18/2006 5:00:32 PM PST by Liberty Valance ("Chloe ... I need another way out of here..." ~ Jack Bauer)
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To: jmpmstr4u2

48 posted on 01/18/2006 5:01:58 PM PST by Ladysmith ((NRA, SAS) Fight for a successful Override NOW! Support Zien's PPA/CCW bill in Wisconsin!!)
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To: jmpmstr4u2; SoldiersPrayingMom; Syncro; Jim Robinson

It brings tears to my eyes everytime I read about our troops returning home to a hero's welcome.

Welcome Home, Greg.

Ruth ..... give him a big hug from the FResno FReepers.

Syncro ..... thanks for the ping.


49 posted on 01/18/2006 6:43:29 PM PST by JustAmy (I wear red every Friday, but I support our Troops everyday!)
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To: JustAmy; Mama_Bear; jimrob; Syncro; All

Speaking of bringing tears to your eyes....jmpmstr4u2's younger brother Phil and his daughter that attended the last Fresno Freeper picnic, and a friend of
mine went to the Homecoming for the 1/184th INF, eventhough SFC Greg wasn't coming with them. We were there for both Bravo Co and Delta Co. The last one, Charlie Co. didn't arrive until 8pm that evening.

Just watching the excitement and anticipation of everyone waiting their loved ones to land and come across the runway sent tears rolling down my cheeks and I couldn't stop. They were tears of joy for all of the families that had waited, worried and prayed and endured like soldiers of the home fires that they are. It was really a precious time and I'll probably do it again for others coming home. It was truly a delight to put my Kansas farm girl whistle to work for a great cause.....Welcoming Home Our Heroes!!

I was so happy that none of the pinkos showed up with all of their jeers and our Heroes didn't have to hear all their screeching.

That's one thing I believe SFC Greg said he wanted to do is come to the next picnic, so he can meet you patriots that have been such a great support to him while he was deployed.


50 posted on 01/18/2006 8:22:11 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("....And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt. 21:22)
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; jmpmstr4u2; Swordmaker
Thanks for posting this thread, Swordmaker. I love reading the reports of our heroes returning to the arms of their loved ones.

That's one thing I believe SFC Greg said he wanted to do is come to the next picnic, so he can meet you patriots that have been such a great support to him while he was deployed.

Oh, that would be wonderful! I would love to meet him and thank him in person for his service. Greg is an American hero! And you, SoldiersPrayingMom, are the mother of a true hero. I can imagine how proud you are, and how relieved you are that he is home.

Welcome home, Greg. Welcome home to the 184th Infantry Regiment! In my heart I am hugging each and every one of them. Every man and woman who returns from service in Iraq and Afghanistan is a prayer answered.


51 posted on 01/18/2006 10:28:52 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: Swordmaker

Greg your boy?

God bless him.

Thank you and him.

I know a bit about how you probably feel. My boy arrived back last week.

Hooah!


52 posted on 01/18/2006 10:31:34 PM PST by Radix (Welcome home 3 ID!)
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To: Syncro; jmpmstr4u2; SoldiersPrayingMom

Great photos, Syncro! Thanks for the ping. I feel like I was there. Can't quit smiling for Greg's family and ALL the families of the returning 184th Infantry Regiment.


53 posted on 01/18/2006 10:36:08 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: Radix
My boy arrived back last week.

More good news, and another prayer answered!

This grateful American thanks him for his service - please tell him that for me.

54 posted on 01/18/2006 10:38:53 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: notpoliticallycorewrecked; Syncro
Wow, that Syncro really gets around.

That is exactly what I was thinking! LOL

55 posted on 01/18/2006 10:42:22 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; All; everyone; Everybody; no one in particular
Greg's second cousins prepare for his arrival by making a sign to greet him with:



Greg's cousin spies him, and his Mom tries to hide to suprize him...



But he sees her...



Greg takes a moment to take a "Welcome Home Soldier" call from President Bush.



After that call he got a little giddy and did a dance...



Joe's Crap Shack is right on the Sacramento River. You can see one of the Seven Wonders of the World across the river.



This is the front page of the Sacramento Bee from Monday when the rest of Greg's crew arrived. His Mom is quoted above the picture.


56 posted on 01/18/2006 10:44:23 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Radix
Greg your boy?

Wish he was... but he is the son of a couple of my friends, Ruth and Jim Parkinson. They are mightily proud... and rightfully so.

57 posted on 01/18/2006 10:59:26 PM PST by Swordmaker (Beware of Geeks bearing GIFs.)
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To: Mama_Bear; notpoliticallycorewrecked
Well Hay I am documenting my life...and Soldier Homecomings and Political Events and FR things and Floods (almost got submerged on the backroads around here a couple of weeks ago) and and and...LOL I gotta get some rest.

I am so backlogged and just filled up my server.
58 posted on 01/18/2006 11:01:08 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Syncro
It's crab shack...get a backspace key dude.

Refresher courses in thypos are offered quarterly at the Institute.

59 posted on 01/18/2006 11:08:46 PM PST by Dr. Zoo (The Institute of Phenomonology (Sycronized for your pleasure...)
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom

Thank God for the safe return of Greg and the other soldiers. Please pass our thanks to them for all they've done for their country.

So glad you discovered Free Republic, you won't find a finer bunch of people anywhere!


60 posted on 01/18/2006 11:09:30 PM PST by Mjaye
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