Fort Campbell, KY. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) There were plenty of hugs, kisses, smiles and cheers to go around Saturday night at the Welcome Home Ceremony at Fort Campbell as 326 soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) “Rakkasans” returned from their 9-month deployment in Afghanistan. With work still going on at Campbell Army Airfield, the soldiers flew into Nashville earlier in the day and arrived on Post by bus.
Major General Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell greeted each soldier after they stepped off the bus and at the ceremony talked about the Rakkasans. “Let me tell you about these heroes standing before you today. In the most arduous conditions, the most contentious of fights, that’s when the nation calls on the Rakkasans to take the fight to the enemy. Welcome home,” said Poppas.
Captain Adam Distel held his wife and two young daughters close and had this to say about being home. “It feels awesome, I haven’t seen the wife and kids for nine months, just coming back and seeing how much they’ve grown is awesome,” said Distel. His wife Courtney echoed her husband’s feelings. “It feels amazing, we’ve been looking forward to this since the moment he left. It’s great that he gets to see the girls again and great to have him back home with us.” Distel said.
The main focus of the soldiers train, advise and assist mission was to build the capacity of the Afghan Army and Police to strengthen Afghanistan’s National Defense and Security Forces. The Rakkasan soldiers were instrumental in building the Afghan forces capacity in several critical areas.
