3rd Infantry Soldiers Who Stormed Baghdad Return Home

Associated Press Writer ^ | Aug 11, 2003 | Chris Tomlinson

[mdittmar]

The 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who stormed Baghdad flew home Monday, completing a nine-month deployment to the Persian Gulf.

The last of the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team landed at Hunter Army Airfield to turn in their weapons and the rest of their combat gear before being reunited with their families.

Only the division's 1st Brigade remains in Iraq, and it is scheduled to begin heading home in the next few weeks.

The division's soldiers were the first to cross into Baghdad on April 7, then held the city until they were reinforced by Marines three days later.

The unit's A Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment was on the next-to-last flight carrying the brigade home. When those soldiers stepped off the plane, many broke into tears.

Spc. Deandrea Harris of Ozark, Ala., dropped to the tarmac in full combat gear and hugged the ground.

"It's so good to be home," the 23-year-old said.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Slago, a Bradley fighting vehicle commander with the company, codenamed Attack, called out for his former driver who was wounded in a firefight south of Baghdad.

"Sciria, Sciria!" he called. When Pvt. 1st Class Robert Sciria of Buffalo, N.Y., came jogging up, Slago hugged him and both men began crying.

"That's my buddy right there, he saved my life," said Slago, of Los Angeles. "He's my hero."

The infantrymen flew home on a chartered Delta Airlines flight decorated with red, white and blue streamers, U.S. flags and yellow ribbons. After months in the desert, surrounded by camouflage and olive drab, the soldiers smiled broadly at the flight attendants as they boarded the plane.

"You are now in the United States. This plane is officially U.S. territory. It may not be the state you want to be in, but you're already home," Connie Teitel, one of the attendants told Spc. Kenneth Clark.

"Thank you, it feels good," Clark replied.

Once on the ground in Georgia, the soldiers rode in pale green school buses on the 30-minute drive to Fort Stewart. As they turned onto the base, they saw dozens of welcome home messages painted on white bed sheets. As they approached the parade field, their friends and family ran into the road to wave posters.

Family and friends waited patiently as the soldiers marched across the parade field and sang the division and Army songs. Finally the soldiers were released and they ran into the arms of their loved ones.

"It is absolutely wonderful," Leigh Slago said as she hung onto one her husband's arm. "It seems like a dream come true."

"The cycle of life is complete," said Tom Slago, himself wounded in the battle for Baghdad. "We left here, and now we're back here."

[mdittmar]

Welcome home,thank you.

[hole_n_one]

[snippy_about_it]

Welcome home BUMP!

[Mixer]

Welcome Home!

Thanks for defending our country!

God Bless All That Remain in Iraq and Eleswhere in the World


Thanks for posting this for all to see.

[RipeforTruth]

Tears of J O Y.

Nice post. God bless these brave soldiers and their loved ones.

[VOA]

true best-and-brightest bump

[AmericanMade1776]

THANK OU..FOR THOSE PICTURES AND LETTING ME SHARE IN THE JOY OF THEIR RETURN...LOVED THE THIRD ONE DOWN..OF THE LITTLE GIRLS HOLDING THE SIGN...IT EXPRESSES HOW I FEEL ABOUT THEM BEING HOME TOO :-)

[MEG33]

God bless them.It's a wonderful sight.

[firewalk]

Welcome Home & Bttt

[Aquamarine]

This is wonderful! Thanks for posting this.

[blam]

Welcome home boys!

[kayak]

Welcome Home and God bless you, 3rd ID! Thanks for the superb job you did!!!

[Libertina]

Welcome home, brave ones! Now hold onto your hats for the celebration! :)

[manna]

Thanks, guys, and welcome home!!!

[kattracks]

Welcome Home!!!

Thank you and God Bless.

[montomike]

Thank you so much for these pictures. These men and women did an awesome job and real Americans appreciate them so much and owe them our buckets of our gratitude.

[Tailback]

Staff Sgt. Thomas Slago, a Bradley fighting vehicle commander with the company, codenamed Attack, called out for his former driver who was wounded in a firefight south of Baghdad. "Sciria, Sciria!" he called. When Pvt. 1st Class Robert Sciria of Buffalo, N.Y., came jogging up, Slago hugged him and both men began crying.

Only men who have lived, trained, sweat, bled, and for some went to war together can comprehend this kind of bond that is ageless. I haven't spoke with some of my Army buddies for decades, but if they called me right now, I'd be there for them.

Welcome home soldiers, your country is proud of you.

[neefer]

Did you happen to read the fine print on this sign? Too funny.

[jwalsh07]

A big welcome home and a million thanks. God bless the Army!

[hole_n_one]

I missed that...

Thanks!