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Strykers welcomed home in Fairbanks

by Lori Tipton
Thursday, October 8, 2009

FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- In Fairbanks, more than 4,000 soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th infantry division were honored Thursday.

It was standing room only at the redeployment ceremony at the Carlson Center to welcome home the men and women who spent the past 12 months in Iraq.

"It is my honor to welcome home the pride of Interior Alaska," said Gov. Sean Parnell.

"As an American and as an Alaskan, I thank you wholeheartedly for the service and security you provided to the people of Iraq. More than that, I thank you for protecting our freedoms and our American way of life," Parnell said.

"Standing before you and throughout this arena are the combat-tested warriors of the Arctic Wolves, the best Stryker brigade combat team in the United States Army, and the finest soldiers our Army has ever seen," said Col. Burt Thompson, the Brigade's commander.

The soldiers were recognized for their bravery and commitment to helping Operation Iraqi Freedom, but today's ceremony was also meant to honor those wounded in battle and those who lost their lives.

It also served to say "thank you" to everyone who helps support the brigade.

"To Sarah Palin who for the last year was the senior mom of the brigade," said Thompson.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, were recognized as distinguished members of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which their son, Track, is part of.

"Ma'am, thanks for being here today and for allowing your son to serve in our brigade," Thompson said.

Many soldiers told us they wouldn't be able to do what they do without support from loved ones.

Some say what they look forward to the most now that they're home is catching up with family and friends.

"We've been working pretty hard since we got back to Alaska, making sure everything is ready to start training again. But right now I'm looking forward to going home and spending time with family," said Jacob Cook, a platoon leader.

"It's always good when you get to come home and have that one final ceremony that everybody's here, everything's done, it's all good to go now," said Tanner Welch, a squad leader.

With a salute, the soldiers were put at ease, for now.

Soldiers said when they left Iraq, it was more stable than when they got there a year ago. Col. Thompson summed up the past year in two words:  mission accomplished.

Starting Friday, about 4,000 of the soldiers will go on leave until mid-October. 

They'll start training again in the spring and will probably deploy again within the next year and half.

According to Col. Thompson, they have not received orders yet for that deployment, but he says they will be ready to go anywhere.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com