This week, Soldiers from Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will begin returning home from a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan, though the fighting is hardly over. The seemingly overnight transition from a mild-mannered civilian occupation to the front lines in arguably one of the most definitive conflicts of this generation certainly isn’t an easy one, so once again, a hat tip to those men and women who serve as citizen soldiers.
A first batch of 175 soldiers is expected to arrive at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah on or about Feb. 23. The rest will return in groups through March and early April. Families will be reunited with their loved ones at Fort Stewart.
Starting in February of last year, about 3,200 soldiers from the brigade deployed to train Afghanistan’s police and security forces, a key part of U.S. plans to stabilize that country.
“These soldiers represent what our National Guard is about, ready to serve whenever called and ready to return to their lives and jobs when their duty is complete,” Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s adjutant general, said in a prepared statement. “I cannot be more proud of these soldiers, nor more appreciative of the sacrifices made by their families and loved ones.”
Though it will be a time of celebration and homecoming for roughly 3,200 families throughout the state, it unfortunately won’t be as joyous an occasion for some. Seven members of the 48th fell in combat during this tour. An eighth died from injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. With that said, deepest condolences for the families of 1st Sgt. John D. Blair of Calhoun, Sgt. Raymundo P. Morales of Dalton, Sgt. Brock H. Chavers of Bulloch, Spc. Isaac L. Johnson of Columbus, Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette of Lula, Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale of Riverdale, Sgt. Jeffrey W. Jordan of Rome, and Staff Sgt. Alex French IV of Milledgeville. We are forever grateful.
Please show some love for the men and women of the 48th. On March 13, the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation is hosting an Army National Guard vs. Air National Guard basketball game at Phillips Arena as a fundraiser for the foundation.
All Soldiers of the 48th should complete their re-deployment by May 1.
Leave a Reply