Fort Bliss Monitor

974th returns

Spc. Matthew Macroberts
Monitor Editor

Members of the El Paso Fire Department wait on their trucks for the 974th to return Sunday.

“How much longer,” the woman asked, her voice cracking with emotion. “They will not send him somewhere else, will they?” When she was told that the plane was on the radar and about five minutes away, tears welled up in her eyes.

After 18 months in Iraq, the 974th Quartermaster Company from Amarillo, Texas arrived at Biggs Army Airfield Sunday to start the process of returning home and resuming their normal lives. More than 120 Soldiers arrived here and were welcomed by a few hundred family members and friends.

When the plane came into view, the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts. It did not matter that the plane was miles away; names of Soldiers and how badly they were missed were shouted at the incoming plane. And when the plane rolled to a stop and the door cracked, the shouts of the returning servicemembers could be heard over the roar of the engines.

Hundreds of estatic family and friends wave banners and flags while troops from the 974th form up on Biggs Army Airfield.

“The 974th is one of our units mobilized February 2003 to support 1st Armor in Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. James R. Sholar, commander, 90th Regional Support Command. “We have asked these Soldiers and families to do something special, to deploy for 18 months. It’s extremely important to me and my sergeant major to let them know how appreciative we are. They have given more than most due to the length of deployment, and we need to let them know this.”

For many the deployment presented especially difficult challenges. Staff Sgt. Rene Mendoza and Sgt. Katya Mendoza are married and deployed together. The hard part was leaving their three children with family. “It was easier to be deployed with [Rene], but it was really hard to be away from my kids,” said Katya. “It felt good to come home. There are no words to describe how it felt.”
“My heart was shaking when they landed. The music and the flags, it was something really special. my heart wanted to jump out,” said Rita Garcia, Katya’s mother. “I was so excited to see [Rene and Katya] when they saw the kids. Before they returned, the children would tell me how many more minutes until Mom and Dad come home.”

After processing through Fort Bliss the 974th will return to Amarillo and have a formal homecoming ceremony.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 5, 2004

Family and friends eagerly anticipate the arrival of their Soldiers. Sgt. Christopher Mott hugs his son after returning to the United States. The El Paso Fire Department honors the Soldiers of the 974th by flying a large American flag during their return to Fort Bliss. <map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	974th returns Spc. Matthew Macroberts Monitor Editor Members of the El Paso Fire Department wait on their trucks for the 974th to return Sunday. “How much longer,” the woman asked, her voice cracking with emotion. “They will not send him somewhere else, will they?” When she was told that the plane was on the radar and about five minutes away, tears welled up in her eyes. After 18 months in Iraq, the 974th Quartermaster Company from Amarillo, Texas arrived at Biggs Army Airfield Sunday to start the process of returning home and resuming their normal lives. More than 120 Soldiers arrived here and were welcomed by a few hundred family members and friends. When the plane came into view, the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts. It did not matter that the plane was miles away; names of Soldiers and how badly they were missed were shouted at the incoming plane. And when the plane rolled to a stop and the door cracked, the shouts of the returning servicemembers could be heard over the roar of the engines. Hundreds of estatic family and friends wave banners and flags while troops from the 974th form up on Biggs Army Airfield. “The 974th is one of our units mobilized February 2003 to support 1st Armor in Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. James R. Sholar, commander, 90th Regional Support Command. “We have asked these Soldiers and families to do something special, to deploy for 18 months. It’s extremely important to me and my sergeant major to let them know how appreciative we are. They have given more than most due to the length of deployment, and we need to let them know this.” For many the deployment presented especially difficult challenges. Staff Sgt. Rene Mendoza and Sgt. Katya Mendoza are married and deployed together. The hard part was leaving their three children with family. “It was easier to be deployed with [Rene], but it was really hard to be away from my kids,” said Katya. “It felt good to come home. There are no words to describe how it felt.” “My heart was shaking when they landed. The music and the flags, it was something really special. my heart wanted to jump out,” said Rita Garcia, Katya’s mother. “I was so excited to see [Rene and Katya] when they saw the kids. Before they returned, the children would tell me how many more minutes until Mom and Dad come home.” After processing through Fort Bliss the 974th will return to Amarillo and have a formal homecoming ceremony.