Louisiana National Guard soldiers return home from Iraq (not a sick joke)

Louisiana National Guard soldiers return home from Iraq

By Drew Brown

Knight Ridder Newspapers



WASHINGTON - National Guard troops with Louisiana's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who lost loved ones or homes in Hurricane Katrina are beginning to arrive home from Iraq after a year of duty.


Brigade commander Brig. Gen. John P. Basilica Jr. said Friday that the more than 500 soldiers who'd sustained losses in the storm would be sent home first. Some 200 already have returned to Louisiana, and the rest should return home by Saturday night.


"Some will require more services than others," Basilica said, speaking by video link from Baghdad. "Either way, we will come up with a plan and come up with the support that they need to help them get their lives back together."


Basilica said soldiers who'd volunteered for hurricane relief work would be sent home next. The rest of the 2,500-person brigade is scheduled to return to Louisiana between Sept. 20 and Sept. 23.


Basilica said returning troops would be given the choice of remaining on state active duty or returning to their civilian lives. About 800 have expressed interest in serving in some capacity when they return, the general said. Another 1,500 have said they plan to return to their civilian lives and the rest remain undecided, he said.

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I hope and pray that these soldiers get adequate support/care upon arrival. I can only imagine that coming home to a destroyed city would make it all the harder to transition from war to 'real life'.

And no families left to bring such things, maybe...

The sombrest homecoming ever.

Than when I was in. Some of my old buddies who are still in say NO ONE goes without a laptop these days. LOL.

...have screwed up the response. They're not going to be happy campers.

This is too sad. I can't take much more of this mess.

but the situation really sucks for them are they going to the astrodome as well? (sarcasm).I doubt the government has supplied any credible place or situation for them.

God bless your souls.

Interesting.

3000 La. Guardsmen fighting Bush's bogus war..how different could the NO situation have been if these men were home on 8-28?

they were not going to be allowed too! I cannot even imagine, seeing the devastation on the news, time zones away and someone saying, "I'm sorry, but it is more important for you to be here helping to rebuild Iraq, while your homes, loved ones etc. are gone!".