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| "He's my hero," said Virginia Welch, of Eatonton, as she hugged her son Sgt. Darrell Welch, a supply sergeant with Company A, 148th CS Battalion. |
148, 118th, HQ 48th Continue Return
Public Affairs Office
Lead by 1st Sgt. Donald Connolly of Maryland’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry, Soldiers of Atlanta’s 248th Military Intelligence Company; Macon’s Headquarters Company, 48th BCT; Forsyth’s Headquarters Company, 148th Forward Support Battalion; the 148th’s companies A, B and C in Dublin, Hinesville and Macon; and of course, the 115th Infantry, came together in a massive formation that seemed to fill the parade field.
“It’s been great serving with these guys,” Connolly said later. “I shall miss them.”
As they came through the trees, it was all that families and friends could do to keep from running to the Soldiers before the ceremony had been officially ended. When it did end, there was no holding the crowd back.
All across the field wives and girlfriends, mothers and children were leaping into the arms of their Soldiers. There were no calls, as has been at past ceremonies for Soldiers to make their way to the podium because a loved one could not find them. It seemed as if everyone knew where everyone else was.
“I’m so excited at having him home that I can hardly breath,” said Kristin a Michaud of McDonough, wiping a tear from her eye as her husband, Sgt. Dan Michaud hugged their 6-year-old daughter Kristina for the first time in a year. “I swear, I feel like I’m gonna explode.”
With his daughter clinging tightly to his neck, Dan Michaud, a ground surveillance systems operator with the 248th MI, declared his excitement at being back.
“I’m ecstatic to see them again…it’s so good to have them in my arms again,” he said.
Kristina could only smile and hug her father even harder when asked if she was happy to see him.
Across the parade field from the Michauds, nearly hidden by large, colorful helium balloons, Pfc. Harry L. Campbell III of Newnez stood holding hands with his wife Yolanda and their son Kenneth, age 9. Campbell, a postal clerk with
“I’ve missed them so much,” he said smiling while holding his wife and son.
“Who can ever describe how they feel at a moment like this,” Yolanda said hugging
Smiling up at his mom and dad, Kenneth didn’t say a thing. The look on his face said it all.
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| From the left Kenneth Campbell, his mom Yolanda and his dad Pfc. Harry Campbell III, reunite under a barrage of colored balloons and American flags during a welcome home ceremony at |
48th Continues Redeployment -- HOME!
Bail Family: From the left sisters Jessica and Michelle Bail, and mom and dad Barbara and Tom Watson, all of Jasper, wave wildly at the approach of Soldiers of Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team during a welcome home ceremony at Fort Stewart near Savannah, Thursday, May 4, 2006. The Bails and their parents came to greet Staff Sgt. Michael Bail, a medic with
Welcome Home Daddy: Sergeant Dan Michaud, a ground surveillance systems operator with Atlanta’s 248th Military Intelligence Company, hugs his daughter Kristina, 6, during a welcome home ceremony for elements of Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart near Savannah, Thursday, May 4, 2006. (Georgia National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roy Henry)
