First wave of Guard combat team returns from Middle East

VIRGINIA BEACH

The journey of A Troop started with a series of flights from the Middle East. It included a demobilization in Mississippi, another flight to Richmond and a bus ride to Hampton Roads.

Thursday, the soldiers marched the rest of the way home.

The first sighting came just before 1:15 p.m. at Camp Pendleton, as the 50 soldiers came up the road in formation, headed for the field where their homecoming awaited.

"Whooooooooo!" shouted the crowd of family and friends as they held up flags, posters and babies.

The group is the first part of the Virginia National Guard's 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, to arrive home. B Troop, C Troop and Headquarters Troop are scheduled to arrive at Pendleton on Saturday.

They have been in Kuwait and Iraq since September, doing route reconnaissance and security, participating in more than 900 patrols and logging 102,000 miles.

A Troop stopped in front of the stage. Brig. Gen. Frank Batts, deputy commander of the Guard's Joint Force Headquarters, gave the briefest of welcome-home speeches.

"I know I'm the only thing standing between you and a proper reunion with your families," he said. "Thank you for your tremendous service to a grateful nation."

With that and a brief word from their commander, they were free. The soldiers turned to their left and headed for their families. Soon the field was a scramble of camo and summer dresses, flags and tears and hugs.

Mary Beth Baker handed her husband, Spc. Chris Neal, the baby boy he'd never met.

Four-month-old Brendan Douglas Neal is a "deployment baby," Baker said as Neal held him close and they tried to figure each other out.

"His feet are turning blue," Baker said, gently reorganizing Brendan in Neal's arms and giving him a primer on infant circulation.

Neal was unfazed. "He's beautiful, he is," Neal said.

Staff Sgt. M.J. Moyers was met by his parents, grandparents, wife and 15-month-old daughter, Kendall. She wasn't even crawling when he left. She was toddling and dancing Thursday.

Moyers and his group were heading back to Fredericksburg, where "a ridiculous amount of family" was waiting.

"Not a lot to worry about as far as eating for the next couple of weeks," he said.

By 1:30 p.m., the field was empty.

Matthew Jones, (757) 446-2949, matthew.jones@pilotonline.com