National Guard Soldiers Return Home From Iraq

Correspondent

The streets of Jack Finney Boulevard were lined with throngs of flag-waving citizens as a police and sheriff convoy escorted a long procession of National Guard soldiers that had just returned from their third combat tour of duty Friday.

All traffic was stopped on the roadway by police cars as the soldiers returned to their families for the first time in over a year. The traffic began to back up in both lanes of travel as a long line of vehicles filed into the parking lot of the Greenville Headquarters of the National Guard that serves most of northeast Texas and had soldiers that report from as far away as San Antonio.

However, not one complaint was heard from the drivers of stopped vehicles. Many drivers arose from their vehicles to applaud the returning soldiers as the convoy turned into their headquarters.

There, they got a standing ovation from local citizens, veterans groups from four counties, local county officials and wives with young children that had not seen their soldier fathers or mothers for over a year.

The soldiers swept through the assembled crowd to embrace their spouses and children. This was the third combat deployment for the company that has included service in Afghanistan. This deployment in Iraq did not result in a single major combat casualty or death.

The soldiers of Alpha Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 144th Infantry Division of the Greenville National Guard departed for training at Camp Shelby, Miss., on May 14, 2007.

After an extensive training period, they arrived at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait, on Aug. 5, 2007. The Alpha Company soldiers arrived at LSA Anaconda in Iraq on Aug. 14, 2007.

Deputy Division Commander, 36th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Joyce L. Stevens said, "While deployed to Iraq, Alpha Company soldiers conducted more than 365 combat missions, logging approximately 94,789 miles.

"They drove through some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq on a daily basis without sustaining a single loss of life or a major loss of equipment," Stevens continued. "The company performed its mission with distinction."

The company also received accolades from multiple units for their distinguished service.