A tear rolls down Spc. Eric Elling's face, as he is greeted by daughter Autumn in Baumholder, Germany, on Friday, after he and nearly 350 other soldiers of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team returned to Baumholder. Autumn was there with little sister Amari and mom Jessica to welcome dad back. (Michael Abrams / Stars and Stripes)
Cheryl Sowell’s husband was finally home from Iraq, but she tried to temper her excitement, remembering that Memorial Day was just around the corner.
"It makes you think about the other family members and wives who don’t have husbands coming back," she said.
Yet, when 1st Sgt. Charles Sowell with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery filed into the gymnasium at the Hall of Champions in Baumholder on Friday afternoon, his wife could no longer contain herself. She threw her arms around him and tried to hug his entire 6-foot-10, 315-pound frame.
"It feels great," Charles Sowell said. "Any day you don’t have to wake up in the desert sand is a great day."
Sowell was part of a group of about 350 returning soldiers. Earlier in the day, several hundred others had returned, bringing the daily total to about 700 from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Units from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team started deploying from Baumholder early in 2008 and spent most of their time working with the Iraqi army, national police and the civilian forces, such as the "Sons of Iraq," to improve security. The 2nd BCT lost 12 soldiers during the deployment.
Screaming family members, waving placards and flags, greeted the second group on Friday.
The Tressider children wanted to make sure their father, Spc. Charles Tressider, saw them in the crowd so they colored in the letters of his last name on a series of poster boards. They lined up along a back row, and with the help of some neighbors’ children, they spelled it out.
"I can’t wait to hug him," said Tressider’s 9-year-old daughter, Dallice.
With a single word — "Dismissed!" — family members dashed onto the floor to find their soldiers.
Sgt. Benito Oseguera received kisses from his 3-year-old daughter, Isabela.
"It didn’t take long to break the ice," Oseguera said.
In Spc. Eric Elling’s arms were his two daughters, 2-year-old Autumn and 1-year-old Amari.
"I’ve missed you guys a lot," he whispered into their ears.
Returning moms received poignant welcomes, too.
"It’s very different as a mother," said Spc. Milika Slaughter, after gazing into the eyes of her daughter. "You gave birth to that child, and it’s heartbreaking to be away during those special moments."
For some of the single soldiers, no one waited in the stands. But Spc. Joe Eitren said it still felt good to be home.
"You just hug your buddies who you spent the last 14 months with," he said, "and then we go get our party on."
A tear rolls down Spc. Eric Elling's face, as he is greeted by daughter Autumn in Baumholder, Germany, on Friday, after he and nearly 350 other soldiers of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team returned to Baumholder. Autumn was there with little sister Amari and mom Jessica to welcome dad back. (Michael Abrams / Stars and Stripes)
Spc. Milika Slaughter gets reacquainted with her daughter after returning to Baumholder, Germany, on Friday. (Michael Abrams / Stars and Stripes)
In this file photo, Sgt. Mario Lavorrkkaetti gets a big welcome home hug from daughters Monica, left, and Maria. The girls were there with mom Melissa to welcome their soldier home. (Michael Abrams /Stars and Stripes file photo)
Clutching a bunch of balloons, Jose Concepcion, 10, front right, waits for his dad, Sgt. Jose Concepcion, to march into the Baumholder, Germany, gym. (Michael Abrams / Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat team salute during the playing of the national anthem. (Michael Abrams / Stars and Stripes)
