More homecomings for Fairbanks' Stryker soldiers
Published Thursday, September 3, 2009
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!
FAIRBANKS -- Nearly 300 Fort Wainwright soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division touched down at Eielson Air Force Base at 2:14 a.m. Thursday as hundreds of family, friends, and loved ones gathered at Fort Wainwright in the early morning hours to welcome them home.
Dozens of children who would have normally been fast asleep were on their second and third winds as they ran around the hangar. Women touched up their make-up, teenagers slept curled up in chairs. Some people read, others talked or text messaged. Slowly the crowd grew both in size and in energy as the anticipation for the troops’ arrival built up.
“This was my R & R present,” a weary Elisia Beyersdorf joked as she rubbed her eight-month pregnant belly while chasing her 15-month-old daughter Aubrey around.
“It was kind of rough being pregnant without his assistance,” Beyersdorf, who grew up in Juneau, said while waiting for her husband Spc. Adam Beyersdorf to return. “It was hard to deal with, but I’m very lucky he’s going to be here for the birth. A lot of (military) people don’t get that.”
Beyersdorf met her husband of five years while living in Anchorage when he was stationed at Fort Richardson. The couple are expecting a boy. “I’m just thankful he’s home.”
This latest wave of troops, which didn’t arrive at Fort Wainwright until 4:30 a.m., marks the return of nearly half of the 4,000-soldier Stryker Brigade which has served a year in Northern Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The next flight of returning soldiers is scheduled for Saturday morning.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
Ugh I can't wait til my honey is home!! The pictures in this story are fantastic!! Brings a tear to my eye every time I read these stories!
Welcome home troops, and thank you for all you have done.
Welcome Home Guys and Gals you were missed!!
Sniff, kind of make one proud to be an American.
To bad the country went to $h!1 while they were gone.
I love seeing these pictures!! I remember what it was like standing in that AHA 3 years ago waiting for my hubby to come home. We have since moved to Maryland.
A great big "WELCOME HOME!" from the two of us to the soldiers (& friends) who have already returned and to those who are soon to return. A job well done!!
Soldiers - Stay in MY TOWN as long as you want to. You add something that the above poster can't even conceive of - God bless and welcome home.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.