First large homecoming from Iraq planned for Fort Stewart troops

<p>About 170 Fort Stewart soldiers returned from Iraq late Friday in the Army post's first major homecoming since the 3rd Infantry Division deployed for its second tour almost a year ago.</p><p>Family members waiting outdoors in the night chill cheered and whistled, waiving flags and "Welcome Home" banners as the troops marched onto the post parade grounds at 11:45 p.m. After a brief ceremony, spouses, parents and children rushed onto the field for their reunions.</p><p>For Spc. William Buckley of Milford, Conn., it was the first time seeing his 9-month-old daughter, Lauren. Buckley's wife, Jodi, was eight-months pregnant when he deployed in January.</p><p>"There's so many emotions, you can't imagine," Jodi Buckley, 30, said. "It's been a rough year, so we're glad he's home."</p><p>She flew in from Indiana with the baby Thursday night.</p><p>"Hey, Daddy's girl. Peek-a-boo," Buckley, 35, cooed as he took the baby in his arms. "She's beautiful. I've got a lot of catching up to do."</p><p>While Fort Stewart expects to welcome back a few hundred more troops before the holidays, most of the 3rd Infantry's 19,000 soldiers won't return until after New Year's Day.</p><p>Most of the returning troops belong to the Division Support Brigade, which handles maintenance, transportation, medical and supply services for the division. They're coming early to help the Army post prepare for the crush of arrivals early next year.</p><p>Other soldiers returned Friday night to Hunter Army Airfield in nearby Savannah, Ga., and to Fort Bragg, N.C.</p><p>News of the Friday flight created a buzz of excitement among spouses of the returning soldiers, said Ella Layer, wife of brigade commander Col. Brian Layer.</p><p>"They're just beside themselves," Mrs. Layer said Friday afternoon. "They've been cooking all day, getting all their spouses' favorite foods ready, getting their nails done, their hair done."</p><p>Though her own husband won't be back until next year, Layer gathered with families of returning troops for their reunions at the Fort Stewart parade grounds well after dark.</p><p>After helping lead the charge to Baghdad that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the 3rd Infantry became the first Army division tapped to return for a second tour. Most of its soldiers deployed in January.</p><p>The 3rd Infantry's commander, Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, said last month he expects the vast majority of his troops will be home by Feb. 1.</p><p>The division still has a major role to play in safeguarding Iraqi elections Dec. 15. It's also preparing the recently deployed 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, to take over its mission in Baghdad.</p><p>However, Webster said he planned to send home an advance party of several hundred division soldiers before the holidays.</p><p>"Assuming nothing significant changes on the ground (in Iraq), we anticipate seeing some more of them coming home prior to Christmas," said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Fort Stewart spokesman. "The bulk of the division will stay in that window for a January redeployment."</p><p>___</p><p>Russ Bynum has covered the military based in Georgia since 2001.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/12/134289