KPLU Local News
(2009-07-30)
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Fort Lewis, WA – Families Welcome Home 150 WA National Guard Soldiers After a Year-Long Deployment to Iraq
Austin Jenkins Photo
Full story
As the Guard members stepped off the plane, they were greeted by a blast of Baghdad-style heat and a handshake from Governor Chris Gregoire.
Gov. Chris Gregoire: "Welcome home sir, good to have you back."
A short bus ride later, they were standing in formation in a sweltering gymnasium. A curtain rose to reveal bleachers full of family and friends.
[Cheers]
These soldiers are among 24-hundred Washington Guard members who did everything from construction to convoy security in Iraq. For many of these part-time soldiers, this was a second deployment to Iraq. Staff Sergeant Craig Darby - holding his seven month old daughter - says things were calmer this time.
Staff Sgt. Craig Darby: "Oh ya, you can see a big difference. It's much more stable than it was the previous time I was over there."
[Darby's wife Kari is understandably thrilled to have her husband home safe. She was left behind to care for their four daughters.
Kari Darby, Wife of National Guard Soldier: "It's really hard for four little girls to understand why he's gone."]
The rest of the Brigade will return over the next couple of weeks. The 81st lost one soldier - Specialist Sam Stone - in a vehicle accident during the deployment. I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia. © Copyright 2012, N3
