The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

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  • Members of the Dalton-based Charlie Troop arrive in Georgia Sunday night.

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March 1, 2010

Charlie Troop back in Georgia

Afghanistan vets in Dalton Sunday or Monday

Mark Millican Dalton Daily Citizen

DALTON — The members of Charlie Troop made another landing late Sunday night, but this time it was back to the Peach State after a year’s deployment on the war front of Afghanistan. Dalton’s Georgia Army National Guard unit landed without a hitch at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, said military authorities.

Their next mission: hitting town on either Sunday or Monday.

“They arrived at 2300 (11 p.m.) Sunday, and made it to Fort Stewart by 0130 (1:30 p.m.),” said Rick Brown of Operation Uplift, a local troop support organization. “They were immediately released to their families, but they’ll be demobilizing the rest of the week. (Company commander) Capt. (Jason) Lewis said everyone will be on the buses when they head north on Sunday or Monday.”

Brown said the troop — also known as Charlie Cobra because of its reconnaissance mission — will reach town and get into school buses at the Kmart on West Walnut Avenue, then proceed through town on Thornton Avenue to Dalton High’s Harmon Field for a welcome home ceremony. He said the Patriot Guard motorcycle riders, who typically escort military funerals, are planning to pick up the outfit at the I-75 rest stop below Calhoun.

The 108th’s headquarters is in Calhoun. Other 108th units in northwest Georgia are stationed in Rome and Canton. Also home from Afghanistan is Cedartown’s unit of the 148th Forward Support Company, which provides logistics support to the cavalry.

In June the 108th deployed to train and mentor the Afghan national army and national police, said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski of the Georgia Guard’s public information office. He said a special welcome awaited the “citizen soldiers” even late Sunday night.

“It’s good to have them home,” he said. “They’ll still be on active duty for several weeks, but with their families. They’ll come off active duty in a few weeks, go inactive and be back to National Guard duties.”

Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beal of the Rome unit was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) and insurgents’ small arms fire near Kapisa, Afghanistan, on June 4. Four Charlie Troop soldiers were also injured last year, but all are recovering.

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