160 in 39th leave sands of Iraq, set foot in South

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - First Lt. Shannon Keener clomped down the metal stairs of the plane with a smile spread across his face and his black cavalry hat clutched in his hands.

A small crowd cheered as soldier after tired soldier climbed out of the plane. Alpha Troop, 151 Cavalry Regiment, is home.

The 160 soldiers of Alpha Troop are the first of Arkansas' 39th Infantry Brigade to return home from Iraq, landing on American soil shortly after sunset Wednesday.

"I sure am glad we've got some guys home," said Lt. Col. Brett Stewart, 39th rear detachment operations officer.

The rest of the brigade's 3,000 soldiers, who represent every unit in the state, will return in waves over the next month.

Members of Alpha Troop stepped onto a plane in the Kuwaiti desert a day earlier and had time to think about the days to come, about Thanksgiving and reunions.

The charter plane landed in the Mississippi night under a canopy of stars with little ceremony, only a small welcoming party that included Maj. Gen. Bill Wofford, Arkansas' adjutant general.

While the homecoming is considered the end of a deployment, the work is far from over. The lengthy process of helping soldiers transition back into civilian life is just beginning.

"The unit leadership has taken good care of these soldiers for the last 12 months," Wofford said. "Now it's our chance."

Little time was wasted at the flight line.

First Lt. Zach Ramsey watched his platoon load ontoa bus as 1st Sgt. Chris Martin hollered, "Load up!"

"I just want to sit down, watch some football, take this gun off my hip and try to remember how to be a civilian for a while," Ramsey said.

Down the road at Camp Shelby, families eagerly awaited the soldiers. Cars with Arkansas license plates showed up at area hotels Wednesday afternoon. Many had messages painted on their windows, telling fellow drivers that they were proud of their troopers.

In the clear, crisp air of a fall night, soldiers in Alpha Troop fought culture shock. Today, they'll be free of the Army's binds to spend Thanksgiving with family. Then on Friday, they will start the three-day demobilization process that turns them back into civilians. Buses will sit ready to take the soldiers home Monday as Arkansas National Guard leaders prepare for the next wave of soldiers in thecoming week.

The 39th was the first National Guard unit in the nation to be called up in its entirety for a second tour of duty in Iraq last year. Three other units - from Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma - were called up for second tours but had previously only partially deployed.

The 39th deployed to Baghdad in 2004-05 with the 1st Cavalry Division. Its second tour began in March, where its battalions spread across Iraq to protect supply convoys crisscrossing thewar-torn nation.

Two soldiers with the 39th died during the deployment.

The Arkansas National Guard has set up two information hot lines to keep relatives and friends updated on the return of the units.

The latest information on welcome-home ceremonies may be obtained by calling (501) 212-8000. Information about bus schedules for soldiers returning to their homes may be obtainedby calling (501) 212-8001.

A story, photos and video are available on the newspaper's Web site at www2.arkansasonline.com.