Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Fort Campbell, KY. – Fort Campbell welcomed home 40 Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade in a redeployment ceremony Thursday, September 25. As with all returns there were excited family members and Soldiers glad to be home. This return was also very special for one family who were there to remember a fallen loved one and welcome home members of his unit.
(For more details and photos of Thursday’s return click here)
Specialist Matthew Walker was in 1st Battalion, 502nd, Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team “STRIKE” of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He died June 5 from injuries he suffered when his unit was hit by enemy fire in Afghanistan.
Following the Welcome Home Ceremony, Soldiers with Walker’s unit presented his mother, Heather Wooderson, with an American flag that was flown over the headquarters of the 2nd Brigade in Afghanistan.
Walker’s Grandfather, Herbert Walker, was at the welcome home and he talked about being at the ceremony. “We feel like Matt’s unit is really part of our family and it’s so important for these guys to get home safe, we would not have missed it,” said Walker.
Walker, a veteran and former member of the 101st also talked about his grandson and what some of the Soldier’s were saying when they talked about him. “They miss Matt, Matt was fun to be with while he was over there and they are glad to see us here to be a part of their homecoming,” Walker said.
A 5K memorial run/walk is planned for October 11 in St. Louis, Missouri in his honor. His mother talked about the event. “The funds raised for that run will go to build a memorial that will honor all the fallen Soldiers from Missouri that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Wooderson.
A group of Fort Campbell Soldiers from Walker’s platoon say they plan to be a part of the 5K walk/run. Along with his mother and grandfather, Walkers’ father, and his four sisters were also among the family members at the ceremony.