The 94th Military Police Company has returned home.
After arguably the longest deployment of any reserve unit since World War II, the 180 troops reunited with family and friends in Manchester this afternoon/yesterday.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
Gerri Whitridge hasn't seen her son in 20 months.
She's standing just inside the JFK Coliseum in Manchester, hoping up and down in excitement.
Whitredge knows her son and his 180 comrades will charge within a few feet of where she's standing, but she says she can not wait.
T.2
4:01 oh, my god. I can't tell you. It's better than having a baby...my baby is coming home.
T.2
6:10- sfx: troops come in
The crowd erupted as the 94th Military Police Company doubled timed into the stadium.
Many kept their eyes forward, and heads down, as they fell into formation.
The troops had been scheduled to return home last October, but their tour was extended into the spring.
And over Easter weekend, hours before they were to board the plane for home, the order came down that the troops would serve yet another tour.
Now 596 days later, the 94th MP Company has served arguably the longest tour of any reserve unit since World War II.
Company Captain David Bentley told the crowd the 94th was one of the few units that could say it didn't lose one soldier.
39:36 don't forget, family and friends, your patriotism and your support for us, it kept us going. And I am never going to forget these soldiers, and got everybody back home, we kicked ass over there, and we shouldn't forget this. Soliders welcome home.
The long deployment did take a toll on at least some of the troops.
Soldier Matthew Fixler, who married 6 months before deployment, says no one ever told him he would serve 20 months.
1:53 it was challenging. It was very difficult not knowing what is coming up next, and the army not really be like they had a good idea what was going on. I am sure they did, but it was not put out to us really well.
Sergeant Stephen Whittredge says the MP Company traveled all across the country, from Falujah to near the Syrian border.
He believes the extended tour of duty is going to influence whether soldiers re-enlist.
2:56 I think you are going to see a difficulty retaining soldiers who have been over there for long times like that. Especially the ones that have been over there for more than 12 months.
But Sergeant Daniel Hodges, who hopes one day to become a police officer, says he is staying in the military.
And says he's 100% ready to go back.
He credits his fellow MPs with giving him the strength to go back.
1:22 all the experience these guys have. Just takes intestinal fortitude, the people next to you makes it happen.
But right now neither Hodges, nor any of the returning troops seem preoccupied with the war.
Hodges wsalk away carrying one of the free tokens of gratitude... a case of Bud Light.
Gerri Whittredge, mother of Sergeant Stephen Whittredge says her family is going to celebrate with a grand dinner.
3:58 my daughter is making fruit di risotto. He wanted to make me a rum cake and ice cream for desert. I have a single malt scotch, I have several fine bottles of wine. And I got him all kinds of designer beers, but we'll see if he wants to stick with his New Castle Brown Ale.
One military spokesperson said, technically the 94th could be called up in another 90 days.
But when asked if there were any plans for deployment, another spokesperson said with a smile of relief, 'not as far as we are concerned.'
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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It brings back so many emotions hearing the recordings from that day we celebrated Homecoming with our soldiers. Nearly 4 years have gone by and our lives will never be the same as they were before this long deployment.
God Bless you all, and try to stay in touch with one another, not to relive the nightmares but to rejoice with each other for being home, safe and sound.