218th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returns home

DARLINGTON — The final group of soldiers from the 218th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the S.C. National Guard — which deployed to Afghanistan more than a year ago — returned to Darlington Armory on Wednesday afternoon, greeted by family, friends and more than 100 students from Darlington County Institute of Technology.

“The individuals in the service have supported our country and fought for our freedom,” Aurelia Cooper, assistant director of the school, said. “It’s important for the students to realize and recognize this sacrifice.”

Since South Carolina Army National Guard (SCARNG) soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan, more than 1,500 have returned.
“To all of the soldiers that stand before me, a tremendous thank you for all that you’ve done over the past 16 months,” Col. Bruce M. Bennett said. “Thousands of Afghan Nation Army soldiers and police officers were trained by these soldiers and others like them.”

Claudia Wells was outside with the mass of people waving American flags as the soldiers arrived with law enforcement escorts. She and her son, Jermaine, drove from Lee County to greet her husband, James, whom she said was serving his last term in the guard.

“This is the longest we’ve been separated since we first got together in 1985,” she said. “It’s been a long year, and I’ve learned a lot while he was gone, but we made it through, and this is it for him. He was almost out last year after serving 25 years, but then he had to go off to Afghanistan.”
The soldiers arrived in Darlington following post-mobilization processing at Fort Bragg last week. Post mobilization consists of physicals, processing paperwork, and cleaning and returning equipment.

Bennett said this group of 1,800 soldiers made a little bit of history.

“This is the largest deployment of S.C. Army National Guard soldiers since WWII,” he said.

Second Lt. Jeff Blankenship of the 263rd Armory 1st Battalion said one item he missed was ice and his family, although he was able to sneak home for Mother’s Day.

“I snuck out,” he said jokingly. “I got tired of cold coffee and no ice. Those are things you don’t realize you want until they aren’t available.”
Greeted by his wife, Heather, and two sons, he said more than anything, he’ll be glad to get back home to Myrtle Beach, adding that it will take a while to get out of soldier mode.

By the end of the week, the last of seven homecoming ceremonies will be completed to total about 1,800 soldiers’ return home. The brigade consists of soldiers from guards across the Pee Dee.

The 218th Heavy Separate Brigade is the largest Major Subordinate Command in South Carolina. It is one of the 15 Enhanced Readiness Brigades in the Army National Guard. Enhanced Readiness Brigades are the highest priority combat formations in the National Guard.