National Guard unit gets big welcome home from Afghanistan

More than 300 Nevada National Guard soldiers returned to Las Vegas on Sunday, completing a yearlong deployment that sent them to Afghanistan where they built, installed and maintained the largest communication network in the war zone.

For twins Kamee Sills and Kelsi Washington, specialists in the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, the tour was a test of their mettle and endurance.

For husband and wife Spc. Brian Aleman and Sgt. Kristle Aleman, it was about working together in the combat theater even though they were stationed about 100 miles apart.

And, for Spc. Shaari Roland, a single mom who left her 1-year-old daughter with relatives in Las Vegas, Sunday's homecoming at Mandalay Bay was a true mother-and-child reunion.

"It was a life-changer that helped me grow up," Roland, 25, said about her deployment before doors opened and families rushed to their seats while the soldiers, clad in camouflage uniforms, stood at parade rest at the front of the ballroom.

Her daughter, Kaitlyn, now 2, smiled at her mom while in the arms of Roland's sister, Stephanie Stark, who struggled to keep the little girl from bolting beyond the third row during the ceremony that featured nine speakers.

When the commander shouted, "Dismissed," Kaitlyn darted across the carpet with outstretched arms while her mother knelt to hug her.

It was a scene repeated a few hundred times by mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, husbands, wives, grandparents and friends who packed the South Seas ballroom.

Dominique McNally was anxious to see his nieces, the 22-year-old twins, Sills and Washington.

Their mother, Nadine Elliott, beamed with pride.

"They wanted to serve the country," she said. "When they were sending both of them over, I was hesitant but they were there together."

Sills was "just happy to be home" after the long, tiring tour that had some eye-opening experiences.

"We had a few close calls with rocket attacks," she said about their assignment in Kandahar.

Her sister, Washington, agreed. "It had its ups and downs like everything. But you work together and eat together and stay together and cry together," she said.

Said Mom: "They were ready to come home."

For the Alemans, going to the war zone was a testament to their marriage. They had served for three years in the same unit before they were married in October 2010.

For Brian Aleman, reaching the front was a goal that came to fruition. He had been ready to fight for the United States since the sixth grade, when he watched on television the airliners hijacked by terrorists crash into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Although they hadn't yet been married a year when they left for training on Jan. 7, 2011, and arrived in Afghanistan on March 28, they were together only three days.

Brian was sent to Zabul to conduct Task Force Mercury network operations and Kristle stayed in Kandahar to monitor the heart of the network that provided communication to all U.S. and coalition troops through phones, radios and satellite systems.

"Basically, if it was anything that involved talking, we supported it," Brian said.

Overall, the 485 soldiers in the battalion -- including more than 120 out of Casa Grande, Ariz. -- completed 14,000 hours of work and 50 cable-installation missions, all without casualties or serious injuries.

Gov. Brian Sandoval thanked them for their service and said "every soldier in this room is now a part of history."

"We are so proud of you and so glad to have you back safe and sound," he said. "Today more than ever, home means Nevada."

Nevada Army National Guard commander, Brig. Gen. Frank Gonzales, having been to Afghanistan, noted that the 422nd soldiers were in "some of the most miserable areas I've ever been in but they made the best of it."

The battalion's overseas commander, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hansen, said looking over the room at the soldiers' families and friends "gives me goose bumps. Today is a great day. We're back on American soil."

"To say I'm proud of them would be grossly understated."

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.

Trending topics:

• 422nd Expeditionary Signal Batt
• Afghanistan
• Brian Aleman
• homecoming
• Kamee Sills
• Kelsi Washington
• Kristle Aleman
• Las Vegas
• Mandalay Bay
• Nevada National Guard
• Spc. Shaari Roland

Comments

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1. Ka-Faith Jan. 17, 2012 | 9:01 a.m. Report Abuse

   This is my daughter's unit ... she didn't deploy with them last year because she was pregnant with my grandson. I am so very happy all her battle buddies are home safe!!! Welcome home soldiers! All my love and thanks for doing what it is that you do!

2. StephenLV Jan. 16, 2012 | 12:44 p.m. Report Abuse

   Thank you ALL- for making me and my famliy safe and to continue to live with freedom- again THANK YOU

3. GreenEyedGirl Jan. 16, 2012 | 12:44 p.m. Report Abuse

   Welcome home Soldiers !!

4. Tom.Reynolds Jan. 16, 2012 | 7:29 a.m. Report Abuse

   Personally, I think the original attack on Afghanistan was an entirely legitimate and appropriate response to the 9/11 attacks. But it was misdirected and diluted by the attack on Iraq, for which there was NEVER any justification. No way, No how. But our brave men and women took up their tesponsibility as American citizens, and entered harm's way anyway. The convoluted policies of our civilian leaders are not these soldiers' fault. N.H said it best: these men and women ARE our finest. Well done, and welcome home!

5. N.H Jan. 16, 2012 | 5:45 a.m. Report Abuse

   These men and women are our finest. It's a terrible shame that former President Cheney started using the National Guard to pursue his terrible and ill-fated policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were attacked on 9/11 by 25 Saudis and Yemenis with a budget of $750K, and we responded by borrowing $4 trillion, so Al Quaida achieved it's objective. Until that draft-dodging coward Cheney took over, the National Guard was always used specifically to protect our shores. Anybody that thinks we ever had any actual, real allies in either of these countries is a moron, and no one knows this better than the returning military personnel. Thanks to these fine men and women for bravely serving our country. As with our history in southeast Asia, the lack of success is certainly not due to the military heros, it's due to the idiocy and arrogance of the civilian leadership on BOTH sides of the political isle. Same old story, rich, white men in Washington sending off our young men and women to serve on a mission with no clear goals and objectives that support our national defense. I feel so sorry for the severely wounded, and the families of the brave soldiers and sailors who gave the full measure of their souls and hearts and didn't return. Let's make sure that all of our veterans are treated with the respect and support that they so richly deserve. You don't have to be a conservative to support the military heros.

6. reason111 Jan. 16, 2012 | 5:00 a.m. Report Abuse

   Thank you for your service. I'm glad you made it home to your loved ones. Your service is appreciated. Welcome Home!

7. Bob_Realist Jan. 15, 2012 | 10:15 p.m. Report Abuse

   Welcome home brothers and sisters, we are proud of you. Keep up the great work. Oscar, I say we let these soldiers take a break to be with their families and if we were allowed to protect our borders I would be more than happy to take the place of any of these soldiers. Sign me up for border duty whenever the folks in Washington decide to do their jobs.

8. Oscar.Jones Jan. 15, 2012 | 9:59 p.m. Report Abuse

   Put them on OUR border with Mexico. We are being invaded, and democrat politicians like Harrito Reid, are putting out the Welcome Mat. Is tarring and feathering sell-out politicians still accepted practice?

9. RockNDBakken Jan. 15, 2012 | 9:46 p.m. Report Abuse

   A good start, now get ALL the troops out of Afghanistan!! The U.S. has already lost these wars, let's not lose any more lives.

10. Maryjo123 Jan. 15, 2012 | 9:39 p.m. Report Abuse

    WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!