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    Engineer company returns from Afghanistan to friends, family, babies

    First-time dad redeploys

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Heather Denby | U.S. Army Spc. Sean Hoisington, an engineer assigned to the 77th Engineer Company,...... read more read more

    FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES

    09.03.2013

    Story by Staff Sgt. Heather Denby 

    4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

    FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – Hundreds of friends and family members filled Nutter Field House Sept. 3 to welcome more than 150 Soldiers assigned to 77th Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion as they returned from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.

    During the ceremony, Fort Leonard Wood commanding general Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith urged the returning Soldiers to reflect on why they chose to serve in the military.

    “Those families right there are why we continue to serve,” Smith said. “That’s what makes the 77th [En. Co.] the greatest company that has just come back from Afghanistan and it’s what makes this Nation the greatest in the world.”

    Among the crowd were seven newborn babies who would meet their fathers for the very first time.

    Krystal Hash, wife of Staff Sgt. Dustin Hash, said that she knew of 12 babies that were born during the company’s deployment.

    “It was kind of funny how it worked out,” she said. “It seemed like every month we were welcoming another little one into the unit’s family readiness group, almost around the same time of month, too.”

    Spc. Sean Hoisington welcomed not one, but two newborn babies following the company’s welcome home ceremony.

    “The deployment and the separation were challenging, but I think my Soldier’s got a whole new challenge to face right here at home,” said Amanda Hoisington. “The challenge of parenthood,” she said.

    Whatever challenges these Soldiers may face, Lt. Col. Samuel Volkman, 94th Engineer Battalion commander said he is glad to have them home.

    “I couldn’t think of a better way to start my week than by giving this special welcome home to the Outlaws,” Volkman said. “They look marvelous and performed flawlessly while conducting their mission.”

    “They truly are the strength of the nation,” he said.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.03.2013
    Date Posted: 09.03.2013 13:29
    Story ID: 113007
    Location: FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, US
    Hometown: CUT BANK, MONTANA, US
    Hometown: FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA, US

    Web Views: 978
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN