Editor’s note: This article ran in the March 7, 2008, issue.
Story and photos by James H. Egbert
Mountaineer staff
With one delay after another, the 242nd Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 71st Ordnance Disposal Group, finally made it home to Fort Carson late Saturday.
The already-long trip home became even longer with aircraft breakdowns, weather and canceled flights. In all, the journey home was delayed five times, resulting in a week’s worth of bad news and long nights at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
Sgt. Edward Jackson said that there were aircraft maintenance issues and weather delays prolonging their return home, nonetheless, he was happy to be home.
Eighteen of the 19 Soldiers slated to return early last week finally marched into the Fort Carson Special Events Center to a blast of cheers from their Families and friends.
While every Soldier was happy to be home, thoughts for one Soldier who stayed behind were on the forefront. Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Hubbard stayed behind in Germany with the unit’s cargo, allowing the rest of his unit to change to a commercial flight. He’s due back sometime this week.
Suzanne Hubbard, when speaking of her husband, remarked that his actions of putting his Soldiers first was nothing new in the 28 years of his service.
“It was like the movie, ‘Planes Trains and Automobiles,’ but finally being home is great,” said Maj. Heidi Hoyle. “We owe Command Sgt. Maj. Hubbard a lot for volunteering to stay behind so that everyone else can be home with their Families.”
Col. Karl E. Reinard, commander, 71st Ordnance Disposal Group, credited the 242nd OD Battalion with more than 241 combat missions, eliminating 600 improvised explosive devices, 115,000 unexploded “ordnance items” and 90 munitions caches. Reinard then thanked the Family members for their sacrifice and support during the past year.
The battalion deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, last March and worked at the battalion level assisting ordnance disposal teams across the country.