Welcome home

Over 70 Missouri National Guard Citizen-Soldiers returned home from a yearlong deployment to Kosovo on Sunday.

The soldiers of Detachment 1, Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division raced off the bus to greet their families and friends after spending a year in the world’s newest country. Smiles, laughter and tears of joy marked the soldiers’ return as they made their way inside for a formal welcome home ceremony in their Kansas City armory.

After the posting of the colors, singing of the national anthem, and a benediction by Chaplin Philip Pringle, Capt. Alan Bennett, of Bolckow, explained the detachment’s role in the peacekeeping effort.

 “The primary mission of every Soldier in (the Kosovo Force) is to ensure a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo,” Bennett said. “Contributions from these soldiers include intelligence analysis, engineering support and multi-faceted signal support.”

Bennett said that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was the most significant event to occur during the deployment.

“Soldiers of the detachment were all of a sudden guests in the youngest country in the world,” Bennett said. “There was a period of high ethnic tension following this event, but the professionalism and discipline of our soldiers resulted in no major ethnic conflicts in the U.S. sector.” 

Maj. Gen. Wayne Pierson, commander of the 35th Infantry Division, said that the detachment’s performance raised the bar for future units.

“You accomplished your mission,” Pierson told the unit. “You made life better for the people that you supported in Kosovo, and you need to be proud of that. You had the unique experience to be in Kosovo when that nation was born, and you did and outstanding job.”

Maj. Gen. King E. Sidwell, the adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, said that the families are just as responsible for the success of the mission as the soldiers.

 “I’m extremely proud of what these soldiers have done while they’ve been deployed,” Sidwell said.

“They were part of a historic event and your families had to sacrifice to help make happen.”

As the ceremony drew to a close, the Soldier reflected on their year away from home and loved ones. Bennett said that she soldiers now was a new perspective.

“The soldiers of Detachment 1, Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division are coming home with a new appreciation for the good that America has done in Kosovo and for the country that they are coming back to.”

As the soldiers of Kosovo Force-9 return home, several are helping train their successors in Kosovo Force-10.

Approximately 1,000 Missouri Guardsmen are currently serving in Kosovo alongside military personnel from across the U.S. and several foreign countries.

The Missourians are assigned to Multinational Task Force East, which is commanded by Missouri National Guard's Brig. Gen. Larry D. Kay and the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.