Fort Sill Soliders welcomed home

For the first time since 2015, all units in the 75th Field Artillery Brigade are home for the holidays.

Members of Alpha Battery and the 66th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment were welcomed home from the Republic of Korea on Friday.

During the ceremony, the 3-13 Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tillman, gave remarks to his soldiers and their families, congratulating them on their achievements of continuing to protect freedom from adversaries.

“Many succeed in times of challenge because they choose to succeed,” Tillman said in his address to the group.

“Task force Alpha’s mission was to go over and deter adversarial action from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and they did that for the last nine months. I would say it was a successful mission,” said Tillman.

Though the first time all units are home since 2015, Alpha battery had already accomplished a first of its own.

“This is the first time that we’ve only sent one battery. We filled in for C 6-37 until they were able to stand up. We took the load of doing their duties and helping them out,” said MORS Section Chief, Staff Sergeant Jaquan Alexander.

“We’re very happy and pleased with everything we accomplished in Korea,” said Alpha Battery’s First Sergeant, Andy Carmona.

“We had some challenges, obviously integrating into a different unit. But overall very successful, we got a lot of recognition for all of the stuff that we did while in Korea,” said Carmona.

Back home, soldiers will be reintegrating to Fort Sill and the local community. According to Tillman, it is unlikely that they will be tasked with another overseas mission soon.

“It’s great. I’ve got two kids and a wife,” said Alexander. “It’s good to be back with them and see those moments now … I’m going to spend time with family and get back to training. It doesn’t stop while we’re here.”

“I’m excited to see my family, I’m excited to see my kids again. My wife is coming out here from Germany, so we can be reunited again. I’m just happy soldiers get to be back with their families,” said Carmona.

Soldiers and their families were quickly released and were able to hug before jetting to their cars for a long-awaited trip home.