Ft. Stewart, GA, April 19 -- April 20, 2006 - The first of more than 4,000 members of the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade returned home Wednesday after a year of combat operations in Iraq. Wednesday’s arrival marked the first of nearly a dozen flights over the next four weeks bringing the Soldiers back to Georgia.

Some 300 members of Georgia’s 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry were greeted by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as they stepped off the plane at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. Less than three hours later they were welcomed home with open arms and resounding cheers of “thank God you’re all home safe,” by families, friends and officials at nearby Fort Stewart.

Tears and smiles covered the faces of those anxious family members and friends as their Soldiers marched proudly across the parade field to the awaiting crowd.

“We are just glad he is home,” said Wanda Watkins, of Atlanta, who’s son, Spc. Alfred Watkins of Company C just returned home. “We were nervous when he first went over.”

Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue are the first to greet Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade as they return home from Iraq on Wednesday. The Soldiers flew into Hunter Army Airfield after a 20-plus hour flight from Kuwait. Georgia National Guard Photo by Jim Driscoll

After meeting the Soldiers at the airplane, the Governor “I can think of no job more important than the one that these men and women embraced,” said Perdue. “These soldiers are our family members, neighbors, friends and coworkers and they put their lives on hold to defend our nation in the global war on terrorism.”
In addressing the troops, Perdue delivered what he called “the shortest political speech in history” to welcome home the Soldiers.

Spc. Anthony Williams, an Albany, Georgia native and a medic with HHC 2/121 Infantry Battalion, receives a heartfelt welcome home from his daughter Alexis and his aunt, Alta Harp, also from Albany, following the Soldier’s return home along with fellow members of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48^th Brigade Combat Team’s during welcome home ceremonies Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at Fort Stewart, Georgia after a year long United States deployment in Iraq.  (Photo by Spc. Curtis Porter III)

Cowser family members from left to right, Cassidy, Megan, and Brittany wait with anticipation Wednesday April 19, 2006 at Fort Stewart, Georgia’s Cottrell Field prior to the return of their father Sgt. 1st Class Clint Cowser of Gainesville and a Soldier with the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team’s Company C 1/121 Infantry at the end of the family’s year-long separation. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Porter III)

Kim Thompson of Acworth, wife of Sgt. Shawn Thompson a soldier with Charlie Company 1/121 Infantry hugs her husband with joy following a brief welcome home ceremony Wednesday April 19, 2006 at Fort Stewart, Georgia’s Cottrell Field for his unit and other members of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team after a year long deployment to Iraq. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Porter III)

Family members of Sgt. James Roger Cameron with 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry welcome him and other members of the 121st home from Iraq at Fort Stewart near Savannah April 19, 2006. (Georgia National Guard photo by Pfc. Amanda Luksic)