2014-11-12-Fort Bragg, NC-Gabe & the 82nd Airborne return from Afghanistan

The first and second battalions of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division returned home to Fort Bragg on this day after a 10 month deployment to Afghanistan. Their journey was long: Military transport from Kandahar, Afghanistan to the NATO base at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base on the Black Sea in eastern Romania. After a day in Romania, a charter flight to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and, finally, a chartered 747 from Germany to Pope Army Air Field at Fort Bragg. The paratroopers arrived to a raucous welcome from wives, children, girlfriends, family members and friends. Hundreds were on hand to welcome their paratroopers home. When the battalions marched into a big building called green ramp about an hour after landing (army and customs paperwork had to be completed) the crowd roared. After the national anthem, an invocation and words of welcome from a senior officer of the 82nd, families and friends were able to reunite with their troopers. Georgia found Gabe first --some tears flowed, Gabe received crushing hugs and the joy of our family was inexpressible. After 20 minutes or so, the battalions re-formed and were bussed to their barracks where they turned in their weapons and collected their gear. After that, Gabe was ours and we returned to our hotel, finally getting to bed at 2 AM.