Welcome home - pics

[Kadie]

Members of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team wait to be dismissed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after arriving back from a 16-month tour of duty in Iraq. The remainder of the 700-man battalion and the 3,800-man Stryker brigade will be returning over the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


People cheer as members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade return to Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after arriving back from a 16 month tour of duty in Iraq. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade greet their families at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after arriving back from an extended tour in Iraq. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


Staff Sgt. Daniel Wiser, with the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, plays with his daughter Sarah, 3, at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after arriving back from a 16-month tour of duty in Iraq. The remainder of the 700-man battalion and the 3,800-man Stryker brigade will be returning over the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


Staff Sgt. Dwight Wesley, with the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, greets his son D-Andre, 11, and the rest of his family at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after arriving back from a 16-month tour of duty in Iraq. The remainder of the 700-man battalion and the 3,800-man Stryker brigade will be returning over the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


Mekhi Dawson tries to move the duffel bag of his father, Staff Sgt. Ahmad Dawson, after Sgt. Dawson and other members of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, arrived at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after a 16-month tour of duty in Iraq. The remainder of the 700-man battalion and the 3,800-man Stryker brigade will be returning over the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)


U.S. army Capt. Derrick Draper carries his son Joseph, 3, after he and other members of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, arrive at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, after a 16 month tour of duty in Irag. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

[Maat]

1. Thank you, Spirit (God)!

May they remain home, and may we get out of Iraq NOW!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. ..

:cry:

[Kadie]

19. .

:hug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Let's hope that they NEVER have to go back to Iraq!n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. I hear a lot of the ones coming back

are being told to be ready to go back out in January.

It's so fucked up.

Hopefully, the DEMS will put the brakes on Bush & his PNAC pipedreams.

[Bucky]

21. "back out in January"? That's nuts. One reason the horror stories are rare is b/c of longer R&R

The more you tighten down those recuperation periods between deployments, the more pressure you put the troops under. They need a full 12 months: six to recoop and six to regear and retrain for changing conditions and priorities; not this laughable two month period. This is the exact opposite of supporting the troops. It's abusing them and I can't even imagine what this could mean for the locals in Iraq who run the daily risk of being caught in the crossfire.

Utter lunacy.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Thanks, Kadie...

The 172nd Strykers are near and dear to us here in Alaska. I'm so glad they decided to let them come home this time. There were an awful lot of disappointed families four months ago.

[liberal N proud]

5. Let's pray they don't pull them back again.

[11 Bravo]

6. Welcome home. Glad they made it back.

And I know they will never forget those who weren't as lucky. (35 years later, I haven't)

[Aviation Pro]

7. Outstanding Strykers....

Welcome home to a grateful nation for a well deserved rest. Scouts out!

[brer cat]

8. What awesome pix, Kadie!

Thanks so much for sharing. I can't pick a favorite, I'm too teared up.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. These are the joyful reunions - others, sadly, are not so fortunate

When will this madness end?

[SeattleGirl]

10. Thank you, Kadie, for these pictures.

They brought tears to my eyes, especially the ones with the dads and the little ones.

Adn to the 4th Battalion, WELCOME HOME! :patriot:

[Kadie]

20. The photos with the kids really got to me too.

I can't imagine the emotion they must be feeling.

[Hissyspit]

11. Schwarzkopf commanded 172nd in '70s, if I'm not mistaken.

My dad was an officer there. My sister babysat his kids.

[northofdenali]

12. Our Strykers, while mostly from "outside" are Alaskans, one and all.

We welcomed them, pre-deployment, we support and supported them, during deployment, and now WE ARE SO GLAD THEY ARE HOME.

We mourned with them, and their families, at the horrendous losses, as well.

Welcome home, and Job Well Done, 172nd. Alaska and your Nation are proud of you.

[GOPBasher]

13. What heartwarming pics!

So happy for those who made it home. :-)

I especially teared up at that site of the guy and his little girl playing. I have multiple emotions; I'm getting choked up out of happiness for that guy and his little girl, but also out of sadness for the thousands of others who not so fortunate.

It's even a little sad to me that those who make it home had to go so long without seeing their children. I had to be away from my little girls for about a month, and it almost killed me.

And all for what? What the hell was the point of this war again? grrr :mad:

[SaveAmerica]

14. I'm in tears. Thank you soldiers!!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

15. K & R, for the bittersweet, the rare combination of joy and sorrow.

:kick: MKJ

[lonestarnot]

16. Woodamnwhoo! Yesssssssssssss!

woot! :bounce: :party: :applause: :party: yessssssssssssssssssssss!

but wait, do any have to go back for a 5th Tour?

[OneBlueSky]

18. hell of a lot better than pictures of coffins coming off a plane . . . thanx . . . n/t

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