featuring greywar, the prodigal drunk
Tonight I had the pleasure of assisting in the return of the portions of my Company and our support Company that were deployed for nearly a year. I missed the ceremony inside (although I unfortunately saw a few of our SSGs "doing the Electric Slide" outside as the DJ attempted to entertain the family members through another landing delay), but I got to see everyone outside. We helped set up in the gym, while the Family Readiness Group (officers' wives, mostly) and their kids blew up balloons and set up decorations.
I was on baggage detail and, although there was the usual grumbling from most involved (including yours truly, of course), we really felt like we helped out. We got a bit lucky as some civilians had been hired to download the baggage from the plane and even the Enterprise rent-a-trucks, but we did move those bags around a lot once they hit the ground. We separated our unit's bags from the others, and put the others in separate area. These "other bags" belonged to some Marines, some Reservists and possibly some National Guardsmen, who were still on their way home; Fort Hood was only a waypoint for them.
I got to greet just about everyone I cared to when I saw them: SGT greywar, of course, SGT Talisein, SGT Mad Dog, SGT Dirty, SGT Skinflint, SFC Carpenter, others... It was nice to see them all home. My happiest moment was when I greeted greywar (STFU, you're a good friend and I missed you), but oddly my second happiest was when I greeted SGT PrettyFromTheNeckUp: Her answer to my "Welcome home" was, "I can't find my bag." Chuckliscious yet mean, I suppose. It made me smile.
I volunteered for the detail before it was (near) mandatory. I volunteered when SGT Stick asked for volunteers early on (he sent us to unload chairs that had just been unloaded). I insisted on volunteering when he was going to send us home (me and my battle buddies: "You don't send a SGT home before those junior enlisted."). It was a little bit of work, and I desperately needed a shower when I got home (SGT greywar: "I'm sweating more here than I had there."), but it was well worth it. I was sincerely glad to see my friends and fellow soldiers home (or nearly home) safely. I'm just sorry that I couldn't head over to greywar's and Egregious's place to get smashed and watch Egregious and Jogger hit on SGT Easy and SSG Easier.
I saw a little boy walking with his mother, while his father looked for his duffle bag amid the rush of soldiers in DCUs... "My daddy has finally arrived."