Texas National Guard Armory, Returns Home Aug. 25, 2009

Your nation welcomes you all home. Texans thank you for your service and valor. Your family has sacrificed much, while you were away, but their hearts are now filled with pride and joy. I and many others, pray we never have to send you away in harms way again.

CMS Special Presentation
Texas National Guard Armory, 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry, Returns Home

Dateline: Aug. 25, 2009, Wylie, TX, approximately 17 miles NE of Dallas, temperature: upper 90s with some clouds and a light breeze.

The 3d Squadron 124th Cavalry returned home to Wylie, Texas from Iraq. The squadron first landed in El Paso and boarded three chartered buses and headed east to Wylie. The PGR riders met the three-bus convoy once they reached the Dallas county line. Their ETA was sometime between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Military families have learned this means, in military-speak, sometime between 4:30 pm and Thanksgiving.

As families began to arrive at the armory; some staked positions in the shade, others mingled indoors, while children ate free ice cream and played inside a giant jumping balloon.




Not only was I an hour late, due to an accident on the highway, but I had time to eat my two-course Chicken McNugget meal. I kept up with the convoy's progress by listening to the families who were in constant contact with cell calls and text messages. At 6:00 pm we all knew they were at least an hour away. With an extra hour on my hands I began meeting some of the families.

There was one rather large delegation that I learned was from Gunner, TX. Some of the younger ones wore body paint fit for a football game. They had come to welcome Sgt. EJ Kirk, returning from his first tour in Iraq. His mother, Linda Nelson said, "he is not going back", as her eyes filled with tears. EJs grandmother, Edwanda Nelson, said she was there to also welcome, AJ Smith and Travis Hall both from Gunner. She explained, "in a small town everybody is family."

Then there was Haley, who would not play with the other children, she was too anxious, as she waited for her daddy, Sgt. Michael Dickson. He was called away when his youngest child, Hunter was barely one week old.

I also met the Malozzo family, from Coppel, TX, and their son Sgt. Jeremy Malozzo, was returning from his first deployment to the Middle-East. When asked, what is the first thing she is going to do when she sees her son, his mother said, "Pick him up and give him big hug."

As the sun was setting the roar of motorcycle could be heard approaching. The convoy took a slight detour through downtown Wylie where they were greeted by hundreds, the same people who wished the 150 men, Godspeed and a safe return. There were dignitaries, an escort provided by the local police department and the fire department. Fire trucks provided a "water cannon arc" over the buses as they proceeded along a parade route through Wylie to the armory.

Once again the roar and thunder of motorcycles could be heard approaching, this time the bus convoy had finally reached its destination. After the buses made a final turn, into the main driveway, people began to run towards the armory to meet the buses. One soldier had arrived earlier, due to an injury, and surprised his fellow soldiers as they pulled up to the main entrance. When the bus doors opened the soldiers ran to greet their fellow soldier. Then they began to look for their families. There were tears of joy and very touching moments from grandparents, parents, wives, children, brothers and sisters. Some of the smallest children had to acquaint themselves with their dads, while other showered their dads with kisses and hugs. One soldier had to take a second glance before recognizing his wife.

The soldiers were required to gather into formation for a final debriefing by their base commander. The commander then ordered the Captain to dismiss his troops. The men quickly rejoined their families and went their separate ways.

Special Thanks To:

The Wonderful Families of the troops
North Texas Patriot Guard Riders
Wylie Police and Fire Department
Citizens of Wylie

Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Email: castillomedia@gmail.com

Category:

News & Politics

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[shawnster26]

i wouldn't consider cav scouts pogs, congrats guys.

[mommas011]

gay

[joeyfred8]

Freaking POGS

[darksamuari]

im enlisting in the next 2 or 3 weeks and my unit is in fort worth im doing infantry

[mello27]

@quadzilla8936 thats my home unit i am curently with HHB 1/133 in iraq gettign redy to come home soon

[quadzilla8936]

i have the honor of reporting to 1/124th A Troop October 2010. Scout's Out, hooah!!

[101alisa101]

wow well done thats a great accomplishment all home fron iraq wow so proud of u all, gud luck in the future

[bsc1959]

Great video, I was in that unit back in the mid 90's. is SGT Bruce still there ? I'm leaving myself after the holidays for Iraq.

[suma4m]

Mohawk kid kicks ass!

[j00mhend]

Welcome back guys - im sorry I wasnt there to see ya back. Couldnt get off Camp mabry, great job guys glad everyone came back safe - Ill see you all next year already on mob platform - Henderson.