Final large group of Fort Bragg Airborne soldiers return from Afghanistan
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- Captain Geronia Jones wasn't expecting her to see her mother when she broke from formation Friday afternoon.
But Rebecca Drummer, who lives in Alabama, would never miss this. All she could do was hold her daughter and embrace her, as if to make sure she was really there.
"Relieved. Happy. Thank you Jesus," Drummer cried reaching for Jones. "I love you. I love you. I'm not sure which was the happiest day, when she was born or today."
Jones was one of about 100 18th Airborne Corps troops to return home from Afghanistan Friday. They are among the last Corps troops to leave the country, signaling the end of a more than decade-old war.
The Corps, a part of the International Security Assistance Force called ISAF, was charged with the final mission-transferring security responsibility to the Afghans. Heading the International Joint Command, that mission was accomplished just days ago. The small remainder of the Corps, to include Fort Bragg Commanding General Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, will come home with their flag on Monday evening.
Job well done, said Staff Sgt. Tayibat Afbabiaka, who awaited a friend's landing.
"I mean we've been at war for many years," she reflected. "Hopefully it's coming to an end."
Just after 11 a.m., the plane landed on Green Ramp. By noon, the outline of fatigues could be seen coming through smoke in one of the hangars.
"It's surreal," said Brian Heath, who traveled from Martinsville, Virginia to greet his brother, Maj.Bradley Heath.
"We're just overwhelmed with being ready for them to be home and safe," said Trissy Watkins, awaiting the arrival of her husband, Capt. Ira Watkins, with their two small children.
Among the soldiers greeting their families was Brig. Gen. Simon Hetherington. He's one of four Canadian soldiers on exchange to the U.S. Army at Bragg for this drawdown mission.
"Folks coming home right now are going to be able to walk away with their heads held high and hope for the future of Afghanistan," said Hetherington.
However, no one will ever forget the past, or who made Friday a reality. No one will the ones who were not there.
"It's a great feeling to be home, but we'd be remiss if we didn't think about the soldiers who did not come home with us," said a tearful Jones. "Our three Sky Dragons that we lost with this deployment. So it's a great feeling to be home. Just a great feeling to know that our families are here, supporting us and that selfless service."
