Rochester Aviators Wind Down Mission; Return Home Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kevin Abbott, Joint Forces Headquarters
ROCHESTER - Aviation Soldiers of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126 Aviation came home May 31 to local fanfare, including an escort by police and a water cannon salute from the airfield fire fighting team. Charter buses passed under a water canon salute before cheering family members and friends at the Army Aviation Support Facility hanger. Anticipation built and the crowd grew as
Company B Commander Cpt. Christopher Gagliardo is rushed by his wife Tiffany while son, Brenton catches up as the 126th Aviation returns from their Afghanistan deployment.
the clock ticked closer to the estimated arrival time of the returning Soldiers. American Flags waived, welcome home signs and balloons were held high and the crowd cheered as the buses came emerged from the water cannon salute. Each Soldier was presented a rose, donated by a local business as they stepped off the bus and were immediately rushed by tearful wives, children, parents and friends. Fellow soldiers and veterans groups rendered salutes of respect to the returning warriors. The 126th departed Rochester in May of 2007 for Fort Carson, Colo. for mission specific training in preparation for their 10 month tour of duty in Afghanistan. “We were spread out in different regions of the country in support of three different task forces” said Cpt. Eric Fritz. “We were involved in combat service support missions, combat resupply, and air assault missions. “Our guys worked with units from the 82nd Airborne, 101st Airborne, 173rd Airborne and Special Forces”. The unit operates CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The heavy lift helicopters are especially suited for the high altitude missions in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions. “These Citizen Soldiers provided exemplary support to U.S. Army and Coalition allies operating in some of the toughest conditions and terrain in the world, “ said Col. Mark Burke,
Staff Sergeant Nickolas Isler is surrounded by family after stepping off the charter bus at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester.
commander of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. “We’re proud of them and we are happy to have them home.” The Soldiers and their families will participate in a two-part National Guard reintegration program beginning in July as part of the New York Army National Guard’s program for welcoming Soldiers back from combat. The Soldiers and their families will be invited to a hotel setting where they will meet with specialists on veterans’ needs and services.
Local Rochester area fire fighters shoot water through high-pressure water cannons to honor the redeployment of Soldiers from the 126th Aviation as they arrive home from the Rochester Airport. The CH-47 crews flew from Fort Dix, N.J. after re-deploying back from Afghanistan.
Summer 2008