Guard unit home after year in Afghanistan

Posted in The Birmingham News:

Family and friends withstood the rain Wednesday to welcome home members of the 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command unit from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.

A shout arose from the damp crowd as four tour buses carrying members of the 135th turned the corner and drove through the gates at the Fort John C. Persons Armory on West Oxmoor Road at about 11:45. Fifteen minutes later, more than 250 re­unions occurred simulta­neously.

The soldiers marched out of the armory in formation, smiling and waving to those lining either side much like a football team’s spirit line. This was a time for relaxing the rules.

While in Afghanistan, the citizen soldiers helped move supplies, food, mail and troops through the war-torn country.

View the photo galley here.