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. . . .
. . . 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 ...
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.
RuthE here are a couple of the pictures you took:
Thanks for the pictures SoldiersPrayingMom.
Greg and all, look very happy and thankful to be together.
God bless all of our troops and their families.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Welcome home Greg!
Thanks, Syncro!
Thank you, Greg! Wishing you continued joy and love!
Welcome Home Greg and all the 184th! Thank you!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
More good news, and another prayer answered!
This grateful American thanks him for his service - please tell him that for me.
That is exactly what I was thinking! LOL
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.
Refresher courses in thypos are offered quarterly at the Institute.
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!
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