394th CSSB Returns from One Year Tour in Iraq

Photo By Michael Meyer | Sgt. J.J. Stover reunites with wife, Kim and daughter, Bailey, at the WHWC, May 4.  

FREMONT, NEBRASKA, UNITED STATES

05.04.2011

Story by Spc. Gabriel Coco 

203rd Public Affairs Detachment

FREMONT, Neb. - Soldiers from the 394th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion returned home from their ten-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. A Welcome Home Warrior Citizen Ceremony was held Wednesday, May 4, at the Swanson Hall of Science (Midland University) to recognize the accomplishments of the unit.

"On behalf of the city of Fremont, I'm honored and very humbled to be here to help welcome you home," said Fremont Mayor Scott Getzschman. "What you do does not go unnoticed. I know it's a tireless job. You were more than 10 months away from your families and I want to thank the families for their support as well."

The Welcome Home Warrior Citizen Award is designed to publically acknowledge our Army Reserve Soldiers for their selfless service and sacrifice in support of overseas contingency operations. The 394th CSSB, based out of Fremont Neb., deployed to Camp Speicher, Iraq from July 2010 until May 2011. Approximately 75 personnel from that deployment were recognized for their service and significant contributions. The majority of the missions for the 394th CSSB consisted of transporting cargo and commodities. The soldiers executed over 1,100 convoys, logged over four million miles, delivered three million cases of water, and received and delivered over 56 million gallons of fuel.

"The soldiers before you today accomplished remarkable things and demonstrated in theater that they were capable of anything," said Lt. Col. John Holzapfel, commander of the 394th CSSB. "You should all be very proud of them, and to the soldiers of the 394th, you should all be proud of what you've done."

The 394th also played a key role in the withdrawal of U.S. forces out of Iraq. Soldiers of the 394th fixed vehicles and assets used to move cargo and moved thousands of vehicles out of Iraq as part of the planned drawdown of forces. During this period, the soldiers handled over 12,000 transportation movement requests and completed over 2,400 maintenance work orders.

The soldiers each received an American flag and other commerative items for their tour, but for Tara Boynton of Ralston a special award was in in store. As her boyfriend, Staff Sgt. Anthony Modlin stood on stage at attention, she was called to his side. As Tara approached, the battalion came to their feet and in unison shouted, "Marry me!"

Staff Sgt. Modlin dropped to one knee and placed the ring on her finger. She tearfully said, "Yes."

This act exemplified words said earlier by Lt. Col. John Holzapfel:

"When you go to your families, be very proud of what they have done and thank them for everything that they did, because without their support and without the support of the community, what we do would not be possible."

Modlin, 27, had been thinking of proposing for some time and the homecoming seemed like a special opportunity. He said the deployment strengthened their relationship and made the decision to not wait another several months.

The declaration marked a fantastic end not only the ceremony, but a great start for the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Tara and Anthony Modlin and all the newly reunited soldiers and families of the 394th CSSB.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2011
• Date Posted: 05.11.2011 14:31
• Story ID: 70221
• Location: FREMONT, NEBRASKA, US