Fort Lewis Air Cavalry Soldiers Get Warm Welcome
Posted: 4:43 pm PDT August 26, 2008Updated: 5:45 pm PDT August 26, 2008
FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- Hundreds of soldiers returned home from Iraq to Fort Lewis Tuesday morning. The 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry returned after 15 months. About 270 soldiers out of the 600 that make up the 4/6 Air Cavalry marched in to the enthusiastic cheers of friends and family members.The remaining soldiers will return through September. The unit flew UH-58 Kiowa Warriors and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters in air attack and support operations out of forward operating bases. Lt. Michael Laffin has a new son who was born while he was on deployment and is now almost a year old.The Army said the unit killed 135 enemy and wounded 56 in combat. Family members said that seeing their loved ones after knowing they were in combat is a relief.The soldiers said they're happy to be back with family after a long time overseas."(It was) very, very tough. It was like a part of me was missing the entire time and I couldn't get it back. Now, I have them back," said Sgt. Josh McAlpin. Four members of the unit were killed in a helicopter crash near Kirkuk almost a year ago. The crash claimed a total of 14 lives.
Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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