FORT HOOD, Texas — Staff Sgt. Elama Palemene held his two young daughters and kissed his wife early Sunday after returning to Fort Hood with about 300 other soldiers. They arrived at about 3 a.m. to a cheering, flag-waving crowd of teary wives and bundled-up youngsters.
“My husband wanted to have (our children) stay behind, but it was a must to have them here,” said his wife, Annaden Palemene, who held a large homemade sign that read “Sgt. Palemene, Your Tour Stops Here.”
The soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division said they were glad to be home before the holidays and relieved to be out of Iraq.
“This was my fourth deployment to Iraq . . . so it feels great to be home,” said Staff Sgt. James Cantrell, who hugged his wife, Brenda, and daughter Janelle, 7.
Soldiers said they were happy upon hearing that the last U.S. combat troops left Iraq at daybreak Sunday.
But Palemene said he hopes the country remembers that U.S. troops are still fighting elsewhere.
“It feels good to be home safe and sound, but we should remember that there are still soldiers in Afghanistan,” he said.
The Associated Press
