Fort Campbell, KY. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – On Sunday, the last full day of summer, a flight carrying 296 soldiers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Bastogne), landed at Campbell Army Airfield. The soldiers were returning from a nine-month deployment to Iraq, Kuwait and Syria serving in Operation Inherent Resolve.
Major General Brian Winski, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, welcomed the soldiers after they marched into the hangar and thanked their families and friends for their support.
“To the friends and families that traveled from probably every state in the union to be here to welcome home your trooper, thank you so much. They couldn’t do what they do were it not for your love and support and we can’t thank you enough. It makes days like this extra special when your here to welcome them back,” said Winski.
One soldier, Sergeant First Class Louis Scharf, met his son Colton for the first time Sunday. “It’s an unbelievable experience. It’s my job, and our job as soldiers to be away from our families, but when we get to come home it’s just an unbelievable experience and I’m shaking with so much excitement right now,” Scharf said.
More Bastogne soldiers are scheduled to return home next week.