Kimbrel returns to U.S.
Sergeant Brandon L. Kimbrel is back in the United States after serving six months in the Persian Gulf area with about 200 other soldiers from Oklahoma's 179th Infantry.
According to a story by The Associated Press, the soldiers were expected to be back in Oklahoma before the end of July. Kimbrel is back in Oklahoma since Sunday, when he and other soldiers were flown there from Colorado.
The soldiers' families are getting to see them for the first time since late last year, now that they have returned to Oklahoma City. The welcome-home reunion was held in a church.
Kimbrel is a member of Platoon 2, Company B of the 179th. He is the son of Tom and Regina (Glynn) Kimbrel of Marion.
Brandon "Luke" Kimbrel married Rebecca Barton of Alva, Okla., on Dec. 2, 2002. He was deployed at 4 a.m. on Dec. 3.
The 179th is a group of National Guard soldiers. Major Mike Thompson told the Tulsa World that when the 179th received word in August it was headed for the Persian Gulf, he never imagined his troops would be fighting side-by-side with active-duty soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Most of us thought that we would be limited or relegated to support roles because we were National Guard soldiers," he said.
The AP story says "Although the unit went into the combat zone in May after President Bush said major fighting was over, Company B (Kimbrel's company) of the 179th found itself in repeated skirmishes.
Four members of the unit have been awarded Bronze Stars and two won the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. Another six are being considered for the Bronze Star with Valor, the AP story says.
Company B, known by the call sign "Battle," inflicted heavy damage on the Iraqi resistance, Thompson said.
But, according to 1st Sgt. Jeff Mapes, "The most important success of this mission is also the biggest success. Every member of the 179th is coming home."
Soldiers suffered only minor scrapes, cuts, and shrapnel wounds.
"God was definitely with us," Thompson said.
Company B is headquartered in Alva, Okla. They went first to Kuwait in January. Later, both companies were assigned to Iraq, and assumed combat duties in May when the threat of Iraqi scud attacks diminished, the AP reported.
