Fort Campbell, KY. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) It didn’t really matter to family and friends that it was cold and raining Thursday night on the flight line at Campbell Army Airfield. All that mattered was their soldiers were coming home. The largest return flight yet of this nine-month deployment, 218 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) soldiers returned to Fort Campbell.
The Welcome Home Ceremony featured the traditional soldiers marching into the hangar to cheers, applause and music from the 101st Band. After the Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Major General Gary Volesky welcomed the returning soldiers, it was time for a few minutes of personal time for the soldiers and their families.
Colonel Eric Lopez with the 2nd BCT, talked about the mission of the “STRIKE” brigade in Iraq. “Their mission was to advise and assist the Iraqi army in their fight against Isis and it was very successful. They worked hand-in-hand with their Iraqi partners empowering them to get out and fight Isis,” said Lopez.
More soldiers with the 2nd Brigade are scheduled to return this Sunday.