Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely | Approximately 45 Soldiers of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, Kansas...... read more read more
TOPEKA, Kan. - Approximately 45 Soldiers of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment were welcomed home with raucous music and cheers from friends and family members inside Hangar 680, located at Forbes Field in Topeka, Sept. 7. The Soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan in November 2013 to provide aeromedical support to troops in that area.
“They accomplished many great achievements during their deployment,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, adjutant general of Kansas. “This is a great day in Kansas, we have Golf Company back home.”
For some Soldiers, returning home meant meeting family members for the first time.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Fulks, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot with Company G, finally met the newest edition of his family.
John’s wife, Julia Fulks, gave birth to daughter, Alyssa, in March while John was still overseas. John, a veteran of multiple deployments, had previously interacted with his newborn baby girl only via electronic video calls.
“Being away while she was born was probably the one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do,” said Fulks. “Finally being able to meet her was a surreal experience.”
The Soldiers’ sacrifices in being away from home were well worth it, as they evacuated more than 300 patients off the battlefield in 135 missions, according to the commander of Company G, Maj. Kevin Kennedy.
The Soldiers’ primary mission was to provide aeromedical evacuation support within the division and corps under the command and control of the General Support Aviation Battalion.
They also provided the rapid evacuation and movement of patients while providing en-route care to higher echelons of medical treatment, movement of medical personnel and accompanying medical equipment and supplies to and from points as far forward as possible.
“There were challenges to overcome and sacrifices made,” said Kennedy. “If you need us, we will be ready. If you call, we will come get you.”
Once his remarks were complete, Kennedy dismissed his troops for the first time in nearly a year to loud cheering, tears and hugs as the Soldiers threaded their way through the crowd to reunite with their families.
“This is what life’s all about,” said Fulks’ grandmother, Alberta Pyle of Eudora. “We prayed so hard for their safe return.”
| Date Taken: | 09.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2014 18:12 |
| Story ID: | 142023 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | EUDORA, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | TOPEKA, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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