Specialist James Buckner of Dallas, Ga., shares a laugh with his family during the welcome home ceremonies with the 190th Military Police Company. Full size

190th Military Police Company 
Returns Home

The intermittent drizzle and the cooler temperatures were a far cry from what the 120 returning soldiers of the 190th Military Police Company left only weeks earlier in Iraq as they returned to their Kennesaw armory and about a hundred family, friends and well-wishers on hand for an emotional welcome home.

The Guardsmen returned home following ten-month security mission in Iraq guarding convoys and providing security near the southern port city of Umm Qasr.

Arriving back at the Kennesaw Armory following a week that began with a 4.a.m. return flight from Iraq, the men and women of the 190th were met with an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends, family readiness and USO volunteers, local dignitaries, and the media.

"It's always great to bring everyone home," said Capt Jonathan Adams, commander of the 190th. "It's been a long couple of years for us all". Awaiting Adams at the Kennesaw homecoming was his wife and his first child, Katelyn, born while he was in Iraq.

For some, this homecoming marked the release from active duty either at home or overseas after more than 22-months. The 190th provided security at Fort Benning and Fort McPherson for about one year before being called to the Middle East. The solders returned home two month short of the 12 months required of units operating in Iraq. The 190th received back-to-back active duty missions because of a shortage of military police active units in the region.

Spc Ken Schoonover of Gainesville said the unit's duty in Iraq "was long, grueling and arduous. It wasn't the glamorous stuff of the 3rd ID and other units, but it was something that had to be done."

The small drill hall exploded with applause as the soldiers marched in and took their position for an evening of welcome and award presentations. Col (P) Larry Ross, commander of the 78th Troop Command, Lt. Col. Stan Crowder, Commander 781st Troop Command, and CSM Larry Glass officially welcomed the troops and presented each with the Army Commendation Medal. Also recognized at the homecoming ceremony were members of the unit's family readiness organization who actively assisted families throughout the unit's deployments.

"The hardest part of being over there for everyone was being away from family," said 1st Sergeant Anthony Williams of Macon. "You just don't train for something like that." That sentiment was one echoed by many of the returning Guardsmen.

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