Migration
Dozens of 502nd Engineer Co. soldiers return to Germany
Stars and Stripes
September 14, 2005
Soldiers from the 502nd Engineer Co. march to the gym on Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau, after returning Monday from a year-long deployment in Iraq. (Dennis Johnson / Courtesy of U.S. Army)
HANAU, Germany — For the nearly 200 soldiers of the 502nd Engineer Company, a very long year has come to an end. In the early morning hours of Tuesday, the soldiers stepped off of planes at Rhein-Main Air Base and onto buses that delivered them to their waiting families. Around 80 soldiers arrived early Tuesday, while the remainder were to arrive Wednesday.
The 502nd, part of the 130th Engineer Brigade, is the first U.S. Army Europe unit to complete a second tour of duty in Iraq, officials said. The unit is based at Pioneer Barracks in Hanau.
After a weeklong reintegration program, the soldiers will be granted 30 days of block leave before getting back to work in Germany.
The 502nd first served in Iraq from March to October 2003, mainly in the Baghdad area. Its second deployment, which began on Sept. 13, 2004, included time at Tallil Air Base and Logistics Support Area Anaconda in Balad.
Soldiers from the 502nd Engineer Co. march to the gym on Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau, after returning Monday from a year-long deployment in Iraq. (Dennis Johnson / Courtesy of U.S. Army)
Staff Sgt. Johnny Salinas of 502nd Engineer Co. greets his family — wife Maria, daughter Fernanda (age 8), sons Joel (age 6) and Luis (age 18 months). (Dennis Johnson / Courtesy of U.S. Army)
Spc. Jared Medrano is reunited with his 2-year old son, Jaden. (Dennis Johnson / Courtesy of U.S. Army)