National Guard soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Delta Company say goodbye to each other at the end of yesterday's homecoming ceremony.

Justin Long joins his dad, Pfc. Andy Long, in formation during yesterday's welcome home ceremony at the Fredericksburg Armory for National Guard soldiers deployed in the Middle East since last fall.

Natasha Franks greets husband Sgt. Patrick Franks at the armory, where family and friends gathered.

Spc. Jose Marin gets hugs from wife Sonia and daughter Amanda as soldiers from Delta Company return to the Fredericksburg National Guard Armory yesterday after training in Mississippi and serving in the Middle East.

Army National Guard units return to Fredericksburg after serving in Middle East

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Date published: 5/9/2008

By RUSTY DENNEN

The buses rolled in about an hour early, but the crowd waiting for them at the Fredericksburg Armory couldn't have been happier.

After all, it's been almost a year since the soldiers with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 29th Infantry Division had been with families and friends while serving in Kuwait.

As the men--and one woman--in green fatigues made their way up to the entrance of the brick Army National Guard building off U.S. 1 Bypass yesterday, there were cheers, shouts of "Welcome home!" and long embraces.

Waiting for Spc. Robert Eastwood of Partlow were his wife, Lakashia, and his mom, Darleen. Eastwood planned to surprise his sons, Dakota, 3, and Ethan, 2, with his arrival later.

A year with a spouse away is tough, Lakaisha said.

"The hardest part is having two kids on your own," she said, though she had plenty of help with in-laws nearby.

First thing on the agenda is some family time at home, then a trip to Corolla on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

After that, Eastwood is looking forward to getting back to work as a utility contractor.

"I'm glad it's over, and I'm glad to be back," Eastwood said. He plans to get together with some Guard buddies, such as Sgt. Edwin Boxley of Fredericksburg. "We're going fishing."

The only woman in the group, Sgt. Colleen Brown of Portsmouth, said she can't wait to see her two children and to get back to school for a nursing degree.

"I am so happy," she said, saying final goodbyes to friends in the unit.

Delta Company's commander, Capt. James Tierney, was busy hugging his son Jack, 3, and getting re-acquainted with his 8-month-old son, Owen. Tierney got a few days of emergency leave last summer to be at his wife, Shelly's side when Owen was born. The family lives in Charlottesville.

During a brief ceremony inside, Tierney said he was proud of the unit.

"Thank you for an outstanding job."

About 130 soldiers were deployed, but fewer returned. Some volunteered to extend their service with a tour in Iraq, and some went directly to stateside military training schools. No one was injured or killed during the unit's deployment.

For eight months, D and F companies, 3rd Battalion of the 11th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Fredericksburg Armory, provided security at two deep-water seaports. Most of the supplies for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan flow through those sites on the Persian Gulf. The soldiers worked jointly with Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons 5 and 21. --Rusty Dennen

Date published: 5/9/2008

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