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Fort Rucker soldiers return from Iraq

Posted earlier this week in the Dothan Eagle:

Jayden Lacy was just 9 months old when her dad deployed to Iraq. Today, she will celebrate her second birthday, this one with her father by her side. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Lacy was one of nearly 180 soldiers with the 46th Engineer Battalion B Company who returned to Fort Rucker on Thursday night to a hero’s welcome.

“It’s a great feeling, but I really can’t explain it,” Lacy said. “I’ve been over in Iraq for 15 months, and now that I’m back, it’s like starting all over again.”

The soldiers had been deployed in Iraq for 15 months, a time frame that was agonizing for family members.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Millicent Vickers, who was at Thursday’s ceremony to pick up her husband, Frederick Vickers. “It’s been lonely, but very strengthening. I’m very proud of myself, because it strengthened me as a person to be so long without him.”

Doug Roach returned to see his wife, Nicole, waiting with open arms. It didn’t take him long to embrace her, and with their 8-month-old baby, Cale, they are looking forward to the future.

“I just felt like it would never be over, and now that it is, I don’t know how to explain it,” said Nicole.

Doug didn’t have the same problem finding the right words.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” he said.

Lacy’s wife, Melissa, said her own military experience helped her deal with her husband’s deployment.

“It’s been tough, but I’m also in the military, so it keeps me busy,” she said. “I’ve just tried to stay busy to keep my mind off of it.”

It wasn’t just wives and husbands waiting on the soldiers to return, though.

Willie Blue has been worrying about his son, Pfc. Ryan Blue, for the duration of his deployment. He couldn’t hide his joy or his pride at Thursday night’s ceremony.

“I’ve been on the edge, because from day to day, you watch the news and you don’t know if there’s been a fatality. I’m just very glad he could make it back home alive,” he said. “The biggest thing I’m proud of, though, is he’s defending our country.”

That pride is shared by many of the families of the other returning soldiers.

“My mom just can’t wait to see him, my brother’s excited to see him, and my dad is very proud of him, that he’s been able to support me, because not many of our peers have made it,” Vickers said.

William Lacy hadn’t been able to process the emotion of his return until he boarded his plane. Then, the reality of the trip set in.

“Between missions and still working, it really doesn’t dawn on you until you’re on the plane halfway here,” Lacy said. “Then it sets in.”

According to a U.S. Army press release, the battalion’s primary mission was to conduct reconstruction projects, provide security and conduct joint construction projects with Iraqi forces.

Fort Rucker soldier risks life to help pregnant wreck victim

Courtesy of Mike, today’s Dothan Eagle features one of our finest:

The seconds before the Saturday night crash come back to Brittany Bragwell like a strobe. It is dark. The light is green. A pickup truck appears in her path. She swerves. The next thing Bragwell remembers is her white Nissan Maxima skidding on its top in the median of Montgomery Highway and John D. Odom Road. She hears the sound of breaking glass.

Suspended upside down, Bragwell moves her arms and legs to make sure they aren’t broken and struggles to free herself from her seat belt, but she can’t. By now, people have stopped at the site of the accident. Bragwell can hear them.

“Fire!” she hears someone say, and can look out her broken window and see feet backing away from the vehicle.

Just a few feet away, the Chevrolet 4×4 pickup also involved in the accident is in flames. All five occupants have gotten out of the vehicle safely. Bragwell’s car is smoking and sparking. Now she is screaming.

Fort Rucker soldier Michael Jordan is three cars behind Bragwell and sees the accident happen. He pulls off the side of the road and runs to the vehicle.

“I’m pregnant,” she tells him.

Unable to open the door, Jordan slides through the broken window and positions himself underneath Bragwell and works the seat belt loose. His rescue training tells him to keep accident victims immobile, but the car is smoking and could burst into flames at any second.

He checks quickly for spinal injury or broken bones as best he can. Satisfied nothing appears broken, he begins to use his body as a sliding board, scooting her out of the vehicle. There is broken glass on the median and pavement and some of it winds up in Jordan’s legs and back.

Finally, Jordan has Bragwell across the highway and out of danger. Rescue personnel are delayed because the initial report sent responders to the intersection of West Main Street and John D. Odom Road. Two from the pickup are taken to Flowers Hospital and are treated and released. Bragwell is taken to Southeast Alabama Medical Center and kept overnight for evaluation. Mother and baby appear fine. Ella Brooke Bragwell is due Sept. 21.

Four days later, Bragwell, 19, is amazed no one was seriously hurt, and thankful Jordan risked injury to himself to free her from the car.

“He was my guardian angel,” Bragwell said.

Jordan said he never hesitated after he saw the accident.

“I just couldn’t see someone lose their life in an accident, even if it meant me risking my life,” said Jordan, a Detroit native who has been at Fort Rucker for about 18 months. “She was very conscious and alert and I couldn’t live with just passing it by. I believe it’s just basic instinct to do something like that.”

Bragwell and Jordan have maintained contact since the accident and Bragwell said the others in the pickup truck have relayed thoughts and prayers for her as well.

Thank you and God bless you, Michael!

Fort Rucker soldiers return from Iraq

A friend of mine emailed me this morning about something published yesterday in the Dothan Eagle. A very touching story detailing the recent return of the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group at Fort Rucker, including one couple who met through Soldiers’ Angels!

Read the entire story here.

Ft. Rucker Farewell Party Video

Courtesy of Lori, a video montage is available containing photos from the farewell party for the 46th Eng. Btl. at Fort Rucker a few weeks ago:

Nice work, Lori. You and your team did a great job!

Farewell Party at Ft. Rucker for the 46th – APRIL 19th

Courtesy of Lori, Soldiers’ Angels Southeastern US VA Team Leader and CTL, there will be a farewell party for the 46th Eng. Btl. at Fort Rucker tomorrow, Saturday April 19.

Per her post to the Alabama forums:

The party will start at 5 pm and will be held at Lake Tholocco on the west beach. If you are attending, please be sure that you have your drivers license,tag receipt or registration and proof of insurance to get on base. I have made arrangements at the Jameson Inn – 334-774-0233 – if you would like to stay the night on Saturday. Tell them you are with SA and they will give you the discounted rate.

So far we have about 20 confirmed Angels that will be there. This is going to be a huge party!!! The count for soldiers and families is 368 plus or minus. I know that there will be 70 PGR in attendance and the military liaison to Governor Bob Riley will be attending. AND a local radio station inadvertently informed the public that they are invited and welcome to attend!!!

The FRG has planned this to be a luau and the following is the itinerary they have in place:

5 – Greetings
5:30 – eat
6 – limbo & dance
6:10 – luau performance
6:10-7 – luau activities
7 – awards ceremony
7:30 – luau performance
7:40 – kids performance
8 – enjoy luau activities

I know there will be fireworks on the lake as well.

Fort Rucker isn’t far from places in GA, FL, and MS so you Angels are welcome to come as well!!

…

There will be an area where SA will set up tables for crafts for the children, sign up for the soldiers and potential Angels.

I will be the one in the corner praying we have enough food!! Smile I’m wearing my black SA t-shirt, short dark brown hair, glasses and pleasingly plump! Seek me out because I have a feeling I will be like a butterfly and flittering all over the place tomorrow!

Sounds like a good time to be had by all! Thanks, Lori, for the details and all your hard work!