Louisiana National Guard soldiers return home from Iraq (not a sick joke)

[hang a left]

Louisiana National Guard soldiers return home from Iraq

By Drew Brown

Knight Ridder Newspapers



WASHINGTON - National Guard troops with Louisiana's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who lost loved ones or homes in Hurricane Katrina are beginning to arrive home from Iraq after a year of duty.


Brigade commander Brig. Gen. John P. Basilica Jr. said Friday that the more than 500 soldiers who'd sustained losses in the storm would be sent home first. Some 200 already have returned to Louisiana, and the rest should return home by Saturday night.


"Some will require more services than others," Basilica said, speaking by video link from Baghdad. "Either way, we will come up with a plan and come up with the support that they need to help them get their lives back together."


Basilica said soldiers who'd volunteered for hurricane relief work would be sent home next. The rest of the 2,500-person brigade is scheduled to return to Louisiana between Sept. 20 and Sept. 23.


Basilica said returning troops would be given the choice of remaining on state active duty or returning to their civilian lives. About 800 have expressed interest in serving in some capacity when they return, the general said. Another 1,500 have said they plan to return to their civilian lives and the rest remain undecided, he said.

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[texanwitch]

1. It's good to see them back home. I wonder what they are thinking.

[IA_Seth]

2. How terrible...

I hope and pray that these soldiers get adequate support/care upon arrival. I can only imagine that coming home to a destroyed city would make it all the harder to transition from war to 'real life'.

[NorthernSpy]

3. no flags, no flowers

And no families left to bring such things, maybe...

The sombrest homecoming ever.

[aquart]

4. It shows on their grim faces.

[Catch22Dem]

5. Looks like a lot more guys have laptops...

Than when I was in. Some of my old buddies who are still in say NO ONE goes without a laptop these days. LOL.

[skooooo]

6. Wait til the homies tell them how bad the feds...

...have screwed up the response. They're not going to be happy campers.

[malaise]

7. They saw most of that on Cable

This is too sad. I can't take much more of this mess.

[gate of the sun]

8. well it's great that they came home

but the situation really sucks for them are they going to the astrodome as well? (sarcasm).I doubt the government has supplied any credible place or situation for them.

[goforit]

9. Many tears for lonely hearts..

God bless your souls.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. 60% will leave NG.

Interesting.

[ignatius 2]

11. 500 returning home now, the other 2500 returning between 9-20 and 23.

3000 La. Guardsmen fighting Bush's bogus war..how different could the NO situation have been if these men were home on 8-28?

[I_Make_Mistakes]

12. At least they got to come home! Last week local radio was stating

they were not going to be allowed too! I cannot even imagine, seeing the devastation on the news, time zones away and someone saying, "I'm sorry, but it is more important for you to be here helping to rebuild Iraq, while your homes, loved ones etc. are gone!".