Anticipating to reunite with her soldier boyfriend at a Reno airport after his deployment to Kuwait and Iraq, Danielle Duncan bought a bouquet of flowers, a red, white and blue necklace, and a small American flag to bring with her.
Little did she know the reunion in April with Sgt. Sean Rawlins would take place at Nevada National Guardman’s house. His roommates coordinated for her to arrive at the home before heading to the airport, and when the woman got there, she was greeted with a surprise: Her boyfriend.
“Now we get to go back to normal,” Rawlins said he told her.
On Friday afternoon, the service members of Bravo Company 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, who were deployed in September, and a couple dozen loved ones, gathered at Green Valley Ranch for a “demobilization ceremony,” which marked their official return home.
Rawlins was one of about 50 soldiers who came back in April, while the rest of the roughly 140 battalion members returned in early July.
Overseas adversity encountered by the Nevada battalion during their deployment wasn’t limited to treacherous temperatures, rugged terrain, the thousands of miles of separation from their loved ones, or the dangers of being stationed near a war-torn country: the men and women also had to contend with COVID-19 protocols.
Although taxing, every soldier made it back home, and were commended by their superiors for exceeding mission expectations. The battalion was tasked for maintaining and improving communications technology for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait and Iraq, which made them the multi-nation coalition’s “preemptive communication support unit.”
Brig. Gen. Michael Hanifan said that the “uninterrupted” communication systems they worked on are better than the technology he uses at home.
Hanifan instructed the soldiers’ loved ones to stand up and applaud the service members.
He said people in the U.S. tend to thank soldiers for their service, but hardly acknowledge that their loved ones left behind sacrifice as much if not more. He then instructed the soldiers to applaud their families.
“Welcome home, Bravo 422, you make us proud,” Hanifan said with a hurrah, “Battle Born.”
Col. Troy Armstrong said the soldiers encountered the “most austere environment” in the Middle East since 2003, around the time America’s war on terror commenced following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“We want to thank you and your families for your sacrifice, and express our sincere gratitude for a job well done,” Armstrong said. “Thank you for your unbelievable courage, professionalism and commitment to our nation.”
Lt. Col. Laura Boldry spoke about how the battalion’s “exceeded expectations” and the fact that 422 is the oldest battalion in Nevada, having deployed soldiers six times during the last 18 years.
“Bravo Company,” she said, “hold your heads high.”
Battalion commander Capt. Kevin Yim said the soldiers have his gratitude, noting that they persevered despite the global pandemic that “plagued most of our mobilization.”
“We made it through,” he said. “It makes me proud that many soldiers stepped up as leaders at critical moments.”
Sgt. Rawlins, a full-time National Guard photographer, said it took some time to adjust to being home. One of the first things he did was climb into a car to experience the much different American roads. He also ate Panda Express, he said laughing.
His mother, Hilda Rawlins, who is based in Las Vegas, didn’t get to see him until Thursday. “As a parent, you’re always concerned when your kids are overseas.”
“It’s nice to have him back,” the mother said, noting that they ate Chinese food, his favorite, the previous night. “It’s nice to have him back.”