Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Fort Campbell, KY. – It was a happy day for many families and Soldiers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team Wednesday as close to 140 Soldiers with the brigade returned to Fort Campbell from Afghanistan. It was the first group of “Currahees” to come home from their latest deployment, serving six months of a scheduled nine month tour.
Hangar 3 at Campbell Army Airfield was filled with hundreds of family members, friends and comrades of returning Soldiers for the welcome home ceremony. As always there were both children and adults wearing t-shirts or carrying signs to welcome home their special Soldier.
Outside the hangar those signs and banners were held high in the air and cheers rang out as the aircraft landed at the airfield. There were also cheers and applause and many Soldiers names were called out as they walked from the plane and made their way to the hangar.
Once the family members were back inside the hangar, the Soldiers marched in to more cheers and applause and music from the 101st Airborne Division Band. The highlight of the ceremony was when the Soldiers were allowed a few minutes with their families and they ran to each other for hugs and kisses.
One Soldier, Specialist Ryan Kofron was met by his mother and father and they shared their excitement about him being home. “It feels great, I’m just ready to go out to eat and unwind a little bit. It feels good,” Kofron said. Kofron’s mom Chris said she was very happy and it was a relief to have her son home.
This will be the last mission for the 4th Brigade Combat Team. Once all of the Soldiers have returned from their latest deployment serving in Operation Enduring Freedom the brigade is scheduled to be deactivated in 2014.