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Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sgt. Nick Ramsey of the 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry kisses his wife, Devan during the homecoming celebration as the first two flights of soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Saturday, November 25, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Staff Sgt. John Smerbeck of the 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry spends a quiet moment with his wife Laura and 11-month old son Christopher Saturday, November 25, 2006.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sarah Mitchell, right, reacts with emotion as she and her brother Benjamin Capo, 11, second from right, join a crowd of family and friends as the busload of soldiers including Mitchell's husband Sgt. Jeff Mitchell of the 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry pull into the staging facility during the homecoming celebration Saturday, November 25, 2006.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Draven Carswell, 2, crawls between family friend Michelle Zochert's legs as he plays while waiting for his father Staff Sgt. Jimmy Carswell of the 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry during the homecoming celebration as the first two flights of soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Saturday, November 25, 2006. Zochert was waiting for her husband Cpl. Joe Zochert, also of the 4-23rd.
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
A sign on the Richardson Highway outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, greets a bus load of 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers returning from Iraq on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006. The first planeloads of the brigade began arriving Saturday as the 3,800 troops return from their extended deployment.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Soldiers search through a line of bags looking for their own, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. About 300 members of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team returned to Ft. Wainwright after their deployment to Iraq.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Staff Sgt. Jason Afusia looks at his 2-month-old daughter, Cylah Afusia, after returnign from Iraq with the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. Cylah was born during the Stryker's deployment extension, and Jason Afusia had not yet seen his daughter. About 300 more of the 3800 soldiers with the 172d returned Sunday.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Staff Sgt. Reyez Alverez greets his 2-year-old son Santos Alveres, held by his wife, Maritza Alverez on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Alverez joined about 300 members of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team as they returned redeployed from Iraq to Ft. Wainwright.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Family members of Staff Sgt. Jason Afusia yell out a chant in the Alert Holding Area building as they await the arrival of members of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. From left pictured from left are Roselyn Tufi, Maureen Bell, Fia Williams, Amanda Taliaferro, Natalie Afusia and Jason's Wife, Darlene Afusia.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sgt. 1st Class James Wagner of North Pole, Alaska, with the 4th Squadron 14th Calvary, is greeted by his family wearing Santa hats (from left) Courtney, 15, Ashton, 12, Jimmy, 8, and wife Pam during the homecoming celebration as the first two flights of soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Saturday, November 25, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq. Many of the soldiers with the Brigade had returned home or were scheduled to return home in August after the 12-month tour, but their tour was extended by four months and those that had made it home had to return to Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Debbi Hernandez fights back tears of joy as she holds her sign high while looking for her husband Sgt. 1st Class Robert Hernandez of the 4th Squadron 14th Calvary during the homecoming celebration as the first two flights of soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Saturday, November 25, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq. Many of the soldiers with the Brigade had returned home or were scheduled to return home in August after the 12-month tour, but their tour was extended by four months and those that had made it home had to return to Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Wilma Ison, president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3629 Ladies Auxiliary, waves an American Flag during the homecoming celebration as the first two flights of soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Saturday, November 25, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq. Many of the soldiers with the Brigade had returned home or were scheduled to return home in August after the 12-month tour, but their tour was extended by four months and those that had made it home had to return to Iraq.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Soldiers with the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team leave the Alert Holding Area Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 to go home. About 300 members of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team returned to Ft. Wainwright after their deployment to Iraq.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Staff Sgt. Jason Afusia hugs his daughter Ciarra Afusia on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. Afusia returned with 300 other 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers. The brigade, who had their deployment extended by 4 months, are going to return over the next 10 years.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Capt. Moses Soto dons cold weather gear before leaving with his family Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. He had put "Alaska or Bust" on his gear trunk before the Stryker unit had their tour extended in Mosul.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hendrix is led out of the Ft. Wainwright Alert Holding Area by his son Riley Hendrix Monday, Nov. 27, 2006.
John Hagen/News-Miner
172nd Stryker Brigade Staff Sgt. Wayne Myrie hugs his wife Andrea Myrie Monday, Nov. 27, 2006 in the back of the Alert Holding Area. He was one of more than 300 Stryker soldiers that returned to Ft. Wainwright Monday.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Candy gifts hang from the neck of Sgt. Bereon Taliaferro after he was greeted by his family Monday, Nov. 27, 2006.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Col. Michael Shields gets ready to dismiss his troops Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. The troops ran to their families after the salute.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Soldiers try to catch a view of family and friends after unloading from buses Monday, Nov. 27, 2006.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Family and friends of 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team line up as soldiers begin to march in formation Monday, Nov. 27, 2006.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Soldiers sort through their packs and bags as another flight of soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Wednesday morning, November 29, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Col. Robert Ball, deputy commander of U.S. Army Alaska, right, spends some time visiting with the Erickson family (from left) mother Shannon, Jenna, 5, Tessa, 1, and Trevor, 4, as they wait for the arrival of their husband and father, Sgt. 1st Class Craig Erickson of the Company A 52nd Infantry, as another flight of soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Wednesday morning, November 29, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Pfc. Johnathan Heifner, center holding sign, directs returning soldiers that will be temporarily housed in hotels to the proper bus as another flight of soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Wednesday morning, November 29, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Victoria Ghere and her son Alexandr, 2, dash across the floor to greet their husband and father Staff Sgt. Mark Ghere of the 572nd Military Intelligence as another flight of soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Wednesday morning, November 29, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Spc. William Bell of the 2nd Battalion 1st Infantry plays with his 23-month old daughter Sayla Marie as more soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Friday morning, December 1, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq. Bell's wife Chelsea is at back left.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Members of the 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry unload bags as more soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Friday morning, December 1, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Erica LaFontaine, right center, holds her 1-year old son Jared as she reacts to her husband Staff Sgt. Chris LaFontaine coming home as family and friends gather to greet the soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returning to Fort Wainwright Friday morning, December 1, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Amber Wilson/News-Miner intern
Spc. Jason Andrade is introduced to his four-month-old son Mason by his wife Meleaha on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, after a 16-month tour in Iraq with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Three groups of soldiers returned to Fort Wainwright on Thursday making it the largest one-day homecoming. The entire brigade is expected back by Dec. 5.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sisters Tapu Williams, left, and Maureen Bell, right, welcome home their nephew Pfc. Derrick Fiatoa as more soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Thursday afternoon, November 30, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Tamera Bachman reacts to seeing her husband Staff Sgt. Blaine Bachman in formation as more soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Thursday afternoon, November 30, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
A soldier waves to a cheering crowd as more soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Thursday afternoon, November 30, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the crowd gathered to greet incoming soldiers as more members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Wainwright Thursday afternoon, November 30, 2006 after serving 16 months in Iraq.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Spc. Marcus Ham takes in the Ft. Wainwright air before jumping into a stretch Hummer limo at the Alert Holding Area building of Ft. Wainwright Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. Ham and several other soldiers with the Alpha Company of 2-1 Infantry where treated to limo rides to their barracks and the PX after arriving in Fairbanks from Iraq.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Jm Roberts talks with returning Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2006. Roberts was a contractor helping to repair Stryker vehicles, but returned home with cancer.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Sara Paek, left, tells Marcus Powell about the signs Jaimie Redding, second right, and Sara Rodriguez about signs they made for the returning 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldier Thurday night, Nov. 30, 2006. The three women were friends of Powell's wife, who was not able to attend the arrival. "We don't want him to feel lonely, we are here for him," Rodriguez said.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Families and friends of 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team Soldiers try to get a glimpse of their soldier as the off load from buses and get into formation Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2006. With three plane loads of soldiers, Thursday held the largest number of soldiers returning to Ft. Wainwright.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Maj. John Smith puts up signs for a Capt. Chris Myers Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 before a homecoming ceremony at the Alert Holding Area. Maj. Smith, the company commander for the Battalion Support medical company, was helping to put up the sign for Myers wife Colleen Myers and to welcome home the last of his soldiers deployed.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Katie Shropshire is picked up by her father Cpt. Jason Shropshire Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 as troops and family members search for each other. More than 200 more members of the 172d Stryker Brigade returned up Sunday.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Jan Reed hugs her son Lt. Col. Shawn Reed at a home coming ceremony for returning members of the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 at Ft. Wainwright. Jan Reed and her Husband Dave Reed had been house sitting for their son and daughter Maj. Mary Reed. The two where deployed with the 172d in Mosul and Baghdad.
John Hagen/News-Miner
Jan Reed, left, looks up at her son Lt. Col. Shawn Reed as his father Dave Reed and wife Maj. Mary Reed pose for a picture Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 at a homecoming ceremony at Ft. Wainwright. Jan and Dave Reed where house sitting for their son and daughter in law while they where deployed with the 172d Stryker Brigade through their extended deployment.
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
Col. Michael Shields talks with Sgt. 1st. Class Christian Alexander on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, in the Alert Holding Area on Fort Wainwright. Shields, commander of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and Alexander were greeting fellow members of the 172nd as they arrived back on post.
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
Chief Warrant Officer Jason Dyals gets some help with his bag from his son Ben after returning with the 172nd Stryker Combat Brigade Team on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, on Fort Wainwright. The last of the large flights arrived from Iraq with only the "trail sweepers" remaining.
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
Michelle Cuthrell hangs onto her husband, 1st. Lt. Matt Cuthrell after he returned with the 172nd Stryker Combat Brigade Team on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at Fort Wainwright. At long last Michelle and her 8-month-old son Connor are reunited with their soldier.
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Sam Harrel/News-Miner
Cpt. Robert Walker kisses his wife Nancy while getting hugs from his daughters Ashley and Lia after returning with the 172nd Stryker Combat Brigade Team on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, on Fort Wainwright. Seven-month-old Jake, in his mother's arms was also on hand to welcome home dad. The last of the large flights arrived from Iraq with only the "trail sweepers" remaining.