Tue., February 23, 2010 9:03am (EST)

48th Troops Begin Homecomings

By Josephine Bennett

Updated: 2 years ago

FORT STEWART, Ga.   —   The first unit from the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Brigade returned home early Tuesday morning after a nearly year-long deployment to Afghanistan. More than 100 soldiers arrived to a rousing reception with their families at Fort Stewart.

Most of the troops in this group are part of the 118th Field Artillery Regiment based in Savannah. During their deployment they helped train Afghan police and security forces. Eight members of the 48th lost their lives while they were there.

Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski is with the Georgia National Guard. He says returning troops will now go through a process that helps them re-adjust to life back in Georgia.

“When they return to the states they will of course be given a complete physical. They would then meet with counselors to just really debrief and have some time to express any concerns that they may have.”

Baldowski says the rest of the units will come home in waves. He expects all members from the 48th will by home by April.