Guard Members Get Holiday Welcome-Home in Austin
by Sgt. 1st Class Lek Mateo, 100th MPAD

AUSTIN, Texas -- Soldiers of the Guard's 49th Armored Division were joined by family members and employers Saturday as senior leaders officially welcomed them home from an eight-month peacekeeping mission to Bosnia that ended with their return to Fort Hood early in October.

The December drill, traditionally a holiday and family get-together for Guard members, marked the first time that many of the citizen-soldiers had suited-up in their battle dress uniforms since being released from active duty in October.

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison delivered the keynote address, reminiscing about her visit with the soldiers in Bosnia over Easter weekend earlier this year -- calling it the most meaningful Easter she had every experienced. 

"You are a bright and shining star among National Guard divisions," she said. "Only time will tell if Bosnia is better off for Americans being there. But I know America is better off for your having been there." 

The "Lone Star" Division was the first Army Guard unit to command Task Force Eagle, the U.S.-led multinational peacekeeping force in northern Bosnia. The Army announced Monday that six of the next eight Stabilization Force rotations in Bosnia will be commanded by Guard divisions.

Much of Saturday's ceremony focused on the support the soldiers received from family members and employers -- support the division's commander, Maj. Gen. Robert L. Halverson, called absolutely critical.

"I know that being without your family, husband, wives, kids, and grandkids for most of the last two years has been challenging and difficult," Halverson said. "We've all missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other celebrations; your sacrifices are worthy and they are appreciated most important by the people of Bosnia, by this nation and certainly by me."

Hutchison echoed those sentiments.

"I want to officially recognize the family members, employers and fellow employees who served our nation by waiting here for eight months and taking up the slack for the soldiers called to duties overseas," she said.

Since the troops' return two months ago, most soldiers and family members have settled back into family life and work routines at their civilian jobs. But the memory of the sacrifices they made during the deployment are still vivid.

Lorina Y. Luna, the wife of Capt. Jesus D. Luna, described the hardship and concerns she faced while her husband was deployed to Bosnia as a military police operations officer.

She had to juggle the daily responsibilities of taking care of the couple's two children and the household chores normally performed by her husband while maintaining her professional career as a full time middle school teacher. 

"When my husband departed for Bosnia, our son was just two months old and our daughter was eighteen months old. It was very hard on me emotionally, and at times I was angry at him for going and at other times I just wanted to cry," she said. 

But Mrs. Luna said she understood the importance of her husband's military duties and the mission of the 49th Armored Division in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She was concerned for his safety and welfare, she said, but supports him in his military career.

"The military is his profession and I support him on what he does even though you never know what is going to happen on these deployments," she said. "I knew he was going over to Bosnia for a good cause and the kids kept me pretty busy so I didn't think about the dangers as much."

Capt. Luna commended his wife for her strength and perseverance during their nine months of separation. He also credits her for raising his morale by sending special care packages with treats from home and by communicating with him regularly.

"I struggled with the decision to go and wondered was it worth missing all the moments that are precious to a parent like my daughter's second birthday, my son's first teeth and the first time he was able to sit up by himself," he said. 

Luna said the experience in Bosnia-Herzegovina was worthwhile and left him with a stronger appreciation for his family -- especially during the holidays -- which he said will be enriched as he redevelops a relationship with them.

"After seeing what war has done to the Bosnian people and things that they had to do without that we take for granted, you learn to appreciate the basic freedom and comfort of home and give thanks," Luna said.

(Read Associated Press Coverage)