150 Georgia soldiers return home from Afghanistan
About 150 soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard arrived home Saturday after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
The 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade arrived early Saturday morning to a crowd of emotional friends and family at Fort Benning. The soldiers provided security for eight U.S. bases in Kabul Province, the capital home to more than 5 million people.
Now, they face the challenge of reconnecting with their families and readjusting to civilian life.
The first order of business for Sgt. Marcel Nalls of Douglasville was a stop at Zaxby’s, where the manager treated him to an order of nuclear buffalo chicken fingers. Nalls, who just finished his third deployment, said he doesn’t like to see a lot of people on his first day home, instead choosing to focus on quality time with his fiancée and their five children, the youngest of whom is 1.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” he said. “I could be at home with my children, watching them grow up, not missing any birthdays. But I understand that I do what only 1 percent of the population is willing to do, and my family understands the sacrifices we make, so that helps.”
In Afghanistan, the soldiers also mentored the Afghan National Security Forces and helped support the burgeoning government. Col. Craig Brooks said that just before the unit returned, protesters were burning tires outside the security gate, and there was concern they would try to breach the walls.
Flash forward to Saturday afternoon at home in Roswell, where Brooks’ biggest worry was how to divide his attention between wife Marcy, 14-month-old daughter Beyla and the family dog.
“I take my duty and responsibility very seriously, and I want to serve my country. That’s why I have been in the Army for over 21 years,” Brooks said. “But I have a lot of guilt leaving my wife and my daughter because my wife becomes a de facto single mom.”
Shannon Wilson was planning a surprise party Saturday night for her husband, Sgt. Philip Wilson, who returned from his first deployment. Wilson said she kept herself busy with their five kids, and thanks to Skype was able to stay connected to her husband almost every day. Still, she says it’s an adjustment welcoming her husband back home.
“I’m still anxious and I don’t know why,” she said. “It’s a big change. You’re used to doing everything on your own.”
Philip said he was excited to see his family when he got off the plane, but was also excited to pick up the new motorcycle he purchased while in Afghanistan. So far, he has only ridden the bike about 25 miles — from the dealership to their McDonough home. He and his wife are planning a weekend ride later this month.
“When you get home, everything is different,” he said. “Obviously I’ve changed in nine months because of the things I’ve seen and done — and done without. She’s been here picking up my slack. It put us in a different place. But we’ll try to get back to where we were.”
