Photo By Sgt. Carlene Vera | Staff Sgt. Walter Santiago poses with his wife, Gloriannie, and sons, Rodrigo and...... read more read more
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PUERTO NUEVO, Puerto Rico - or the past 14 years and counting, Soldiers have been deployed all over the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism. It never gets easier for the Soldiers or families. Birthdays, anniversaries, birth’s, school plays, homecomings, graduations, just to name a few, are significant events that Soldiers miss out on because of deployments.
Yesterday, approximately 230 Soldiers from the 35th Signal Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve Puerto Rico, returned to the island from Kuwait during the late night hours and were welcomed by friends and family at the Captain Euripides Rubio Army Reserve Center in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico.
Spc. Alfredo Cañuelas-Gonzalez reunited with his wife and two month old son after the formation was dismissed. With tears streaming down his face, he expressed how excited he was to hold and kiss his newborn son for the first time. “I want to enjoy this moment and my family,” he said, “I’m so excited and I just don’t have any words.”
His wife, Vilmarie Ramos, was more than happy that her husband had finally returned. “I am so happy that he is finally here,” she said. Together, they embraced their son and the fact that they were finally together as a family.
For many, this was the first time that they have deployed but thanks to the advancements in technology, while deployed Soldiers are able to communicate with their families via means other than just a letter or postcard.
Hector Solivan, father of Sgt. Hector A. Solivan and his mother, Edith Diaz, expressed how thankful they were for technology. “The technology we have now allowed us, as well as his wife and kids, to communicate with him regularly,” said Mr. Solivan. “Being able to video chat, Skype and talk to him made this separation not seem as long.”
“It has been a long year and this day is finally here,” continued Mr. Solivan. “We are much more excited than when he dropped him off when he deployed. We are also very thankful that everyone made it back home safely.”
Mrs. Elismar Ruiz, Solivan’s wife, said it had been difficult with her husband being deployed but it was a little more difficult for her daughter Nayelis and son Hector. “He has been gone a year and it is his first deployment,” said Ruiz. “I’m very excited because our kids don’t know that we are here to pick up ‘daddy’ so I am hoping they will be surprised.”
Throughout the year, Soldiers have missed significant events but their morale remains high and they are grateful to finally be home. The family of Staff Sgt. Walter Santiago did not want him to miss his son’s Diego’s kindergarten graduation. Via Skype, Santiago was able to see the whole ceremony and be a part of the momentous occasion.
For Father’s Day, Gloriannie Santiago, Santiago’s wife, and her two sons, Diego and Rodrigo, were granted the opportunity to FaceTime in the 1st Mission Support Command’s Command Conference room. There, they not only got to see Santiago, but they were also interviewed by the local media. Both expressed how much they missed each other but were happy that they had the ability to see each other and talk on a regular basis.
During their deployment to Kuwait, the 35th Signal Battalion provided communications support to various units around Kuwait. They successful completed their mission.
U.S. Army Reserve Puerto Rico currently has about 60 Soldiers deployed to Kuwait and other countries around the world.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2015 16:23 |
| Story ID: | 179038 |
| Location: | PR |
| Web Views: | 1,272 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Soldiers return after a year-long deployment, by LTC Ruth Castro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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