Army Redeployment

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Timm Huffman
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  "I think the best part of coming home, like I told her on Valentine's Day, is being able to fall in love with my girl friend all over again." That's the redeployment silver lining for Capt. Gerald Halfhide III, one of 50 members of the U.S. Army Reserve's 655th Regional Support Group who returned recently from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.

The 655th RSG, a Westover tenant unit, redeployed in time for Valentine's Day, but reconvened to celebrate for the first time, March 9. Beneath the mammoth U.S. flag in Westover's Base Hangar, he soldiers received recognition for their excellent work while at Kandahar Airfield.

During the ceremony, complemented by an Army musical ensemble, each member received an encased U.S. flag, a welcome home package and a coin from the 655th RSG's Command Sergeant. Maj. Jeffrey Morse. They also encased their unit guidon, which formally signifies their return home.

At their deployed location, the small band of soldiers maintained base operations for the Airfield; a small city of 30,000 residents. Their work included lodging operations, maintenance for 25 miles of road and facilities care for 7,000 structures.

"It was a very big team effort," said Col. Ernest Erlandson, the group's commander. "Usually, to run a city of 30,000, the average Army base uses 400 civilian employees. We had 50 people to do it." The colonel said the highlight of his time in Afghanistan was seeing his customers, the members of the Kandahar community, satisfied with the service the 655th RSG provided.

"I think the soldiers did a great job. I was very proud to lead them," he added. The soldiers balanced work demands with the personal issues that come from separating from loved ones. Sgt. Danielle Daly, a human resources noncommissioned officer, left behind a new husband, two stepchildren and her cat during the deployment.

She coped by using Skype to call home as frequently as possible to let everyone know she was safe. The bonds she formed within her unit helped her cope with deployment. She credits her supervisors s role models and big helps in dealing with issues she had going on back home.

Capt. Halfhide, who said his girlfriend is looking forward to a ring very soon, said she played an integral role to his mission success. To maintain their relationship during the deployment, the couple Skyped, e-mailed and wrote letters to each other.

"Developing some sort of routine definitely helps, especially if you can talk to them on a weekly or monthly basis," he said.

And while he had no words to express what it was like seeing his girlfriend at the airport when he returned, he clearly shared the difficulties facing troops coming home from overseas.

Even though this was his third time, he said redeployment has been an adjustment, just as it is for everyone. You never come back the way you left, he said. He also stressed the importance of taking relationships with loved ones slowly at first because of the need for time to relearn each other.

Col. Stephen Falcone, 316th Sustained Command (Expeditionary) Mission Support Element, said welcoming soldiers home is the best part of his job. He understands what it's like coming home from a deployment.

"It's always tough transitioning, whether it's your first time or your fifth time... It's always an adjustment...," he said. "You need to realize things get better; hang tough and remember there is always someone to talk to."

As for Capt. Halfhide, he is taking his third redeployment slowly and enjoying falling in love all over again.