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Twenty-eight Army Reserve Soldiers redeployed from missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom across the Middle East to the warm hugs and embraces of family, friends and loved ones Oct. 7.
The Soldiers were from the 209th Digital Liaison Detachment (Forward) and the 406th Human Resources Company, both subordinates of the 7th Civil Support Command and 21st Support Command, respectively.
The 209th DLD (FWD) deployed in April in support of missions in Spin Boldak and Kandahar, Afghanistan, including Kandahar Airfield, while the 406th HR Co. deployed in January and supported operations in Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait, including Camp Arifjan.
Three separate elements from the HR Company deployed to Kuwait, said Lt. Col. Frank Suyak, 406th Human Resources Command commander, in an email.
“I just want to see my husband,” said Angela Fry, a Sandhausen, Germany, resident, as she waited for her husband, Staff Sgt. Darrell Fry, human resources NCO with the 406th HR Co., to arrive.
The Frys stayed in contact via Skype everyday, which made it a lot easier to be apart, she added.
Staff Sergeant Fry also was excited to see his wife as he waited for his final formation outside the USO greeting area on Ramstein.
“The feeling is good,” he said. “I can’t wait to get in there to see her.”
This was the second time Sergeant Fry has deployed to Kuwait since 2007.
Part of the 406th’s headquarters unit worked at U.S. Army Central’s G1 Section conducting theater strength management. The rest of the 406th HR Co.’s headquarters supported the Theater Gateway, providing personnel accountability for the U.S. Army Central Command’s area of operations that enabled smooth movement of approximately 100,000 passengers.
Also, the 406th established the first Army post office in Iraq since 2011 and conducted postal operations in Kuwait, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and for Army personnel in Qatar, which amounted to postal support for about 20,000 people, Suyak said.
In addition, personnel from the 406th operated the Theater Casualty Assistance Center and provided one team in Baghdad to conduct casualty reporting and another to perform personnel accountability there, Suyak said.
The 209th DLD (FWD) worked as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force combat mission in Afghanistan. All of the Soldiers earned a Combat Action Badge, a few received
joint awards and one was awarded the Bronze Star.
“(I’m) glad to be back home,” said Staff Sgt. Johnny Sarabia, a member of the 209th DLD (FWD). “I really missed my wife.”
This was also the second deployment for Staff Sergeant Sarabia. He was also deployed to Iraq in 2010.
“I am very, very happy,” said Claudia Sarabia, Staff Sgt. Sarabia’s wife, after she embraced her husband in a long hug and gave him many kisses.
The 209th DLD (FWD)’s first assignment was to ISAF’s Regional Command-South to work the Joint Border Coordination Center mission in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, at the border crossing gate to resolve border issues.
They conducted an effective liaison between Afghan Border Patrol, Afghan Army and the Pakistan military, said Col. Todd Johnston, 209th DLD (FWD) commander, via email.
Upon completion of the JBCC mission, the unit moved to Kandahar to work for the NATO ISAF RC (South) Commander of Kandahar Airfield.
There, the Soldiers worked primarily in plans and engineering doing planning and oversight for KAF descoping and retrograde operations.
The missions entailed planning for the redeployment of KAF equipment and personnel and deconstruction of KAF infrastructure, including more than 700 structures on KAF in preparation for NATO ISAF’s new mission, “Resolute Support,” which focuses on the drawdown of troops from combat to training, as well as assist and advise missions starting early next year, Johnston said.
