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153rd MPC gets warm welcome

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Wendy McDougall
  • 101st Public Affairs Detachment
WRIGHTSTOWN, N.J. --  The Delaware National Guard welcomed home 130 members of the 153rd Military Police Company returning from Afghanistan Sept. 18, 2013, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Maj. Gen. Francis D. Vavala, Delaware National Guard adjutant general, was on the tarmac with other senior leaders from the guard to welcome the company home.

"It is always a great day when we welcome our Soldiers home," said Vavala.

While in theater, the primary mission of the 153rd was to assist and train their Afghan counterparts in security operations. Typical training included setting up road-side checkpoints, securing building projects and conducting foot patrols.

What was scheduled to be a 12 month deployment, ended after nine months. Family and friends were ecstatic to welcome their Soldiers home early.

Nicole McCall, wife of Staff Sgt. Roger McCall, and their daughter, Rilee, patiently waited with their welcome home signs as the buses rolled in. As soon as they saw him, they erupted into tears and screams of joy.