Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
psparn@ClarksvilleNow.com
Fort Campbell, KY. – Just in time for the holidays, many families got the best Christmas present they could ever ask for Tuesday morning in Hanger 3 at Campbell Army Airfield.
More than one hundred families welcomed their brave men and women home from Afghanistan with hugs, kisses, tears of joy and pure happiness.
Approximately 144 Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team “Currahee,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) returned home a couple of months earlier than expected from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan.
The soldiers stepped off the plane and were greeted with handshakes from commanding officers and with roaring cheers from their families.
The soldiers were expected to arrive home in mid-January or February but were able to return home early, just or just in time for the Christmas holidays.
“I am super excited my husband gets to be home for Christmas and that he gets to be home just in time to see our baby girl be born in early February,” said Heather Odell, wife of Pfc. Kyle O’dell. “This is the best Christmas present I could have ever gotten.”
After a short welcoming ceremony, the soldiers were able to hug, kiss and greet their families in person for the first time in more than six months.
”I’ve been waiting on this day for a long time,” said Spc. Stephen Black after returning from his first deployment. “It is just amazing to see my little boy again.”
Many soldiers were surprised to see how much their children had grown while they were deployed and they were extremely happy to finally get to see their family members.
“I’m so excited to get to see my family again,” said Sgt. James Howe. “Getting to spend time with my children is definitely the best Christmas present I could ask for … They’ve grown quite a bit in six months and I am very happy to be back with them.”
Tara Tollefson, wife of Sgt, Mitch Tollefson, said she couldn’t sleep the night before because she was so excited to get to see her husband after six long months of deployment.
“Getting to see my husband again is way better than any Christmas presents, hands down, any day.”
Photos by Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
Photos by Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com