iWebTech:   Chird Bobbitt 

Excited families get their soldiers home for the Christmas holiday

By FRANCES HART    12/21/2001

Staff Writer

How can one sum up what the last couple of months have been like? Since September 11, the world has not been the same.

And, for the 550-plus family members of the Arkansas' 2nd Battalion 153rd Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard, it has been lonely and tough. The soldiers of this unit were called to active duty to help with the War on Terrorism. They are a part of history - a pure guard unit called to active duty. Many of them never realized the possibility.

But, they are home now - at least until til January 1, thanks to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. And, oh, how thankful their families are to have the soldiers home.

On this beautiful, slightly cold winter's day only five before Christmas, as every family watched and waited for their loved one's return, they found comfort in those around them.

Legislators, community dignitaries, camera crews, security and police, veterans, and folks from all over Arkansas lined the Wal-Mart parking lot in a massive crowd estimated at over 2,000 people. Major Jody Henderson who also serves in the Guard from Brigade Headquarters as an information management officer, came just to welcome them home.

"I helped train a lot of these guys, and I wanted to be here. I went to Kuwait in 1999, and I know what it's like. When we went to Kuwait, we were the first unit called up during peacetime since Vietnam," he said.

The crowd was enormous in the Searcy Wal-Mart parking lot. As time wore on there was a scuttle of rumor around the crowd as to where the troops were on their way to Arkansas. At approximately noon, a cell phone call was received from a soldier aboard one of the 12 Coach USA buses who told his wife that they were just crossing into Arkansas. Then, there was news that they were just outside Ft. Smith. Every time the buses reached a new town, you could hear a family member shout as they hung up their cell phone, "they're in Russellville, they're in Conway. They are in Beebe. They are only five minutes from here!!"

Nicole Hammett of Bald Knob was talking to her new husband, Ryan Hammett, and said she was calling him every few minutes to see where they were. She and her husband were married shortly before he left for training in Colorado, moving their wedding date up because he was deployed. Nicole graduated December 15 from Harding University without the presence of her new husband.

"I am so glad to see him," she said as gathered with her in-laws, Donna and Bill Hammett, Alma Johnson and Lori Jones.

According to Randy Norman, District Manager for Wal-Stores, Inc., the soldiers received a police escort when they reached Conway. Conway police escorted them through town, as did the Vilonia Police, followed by El Paso, then the Beebe Police escorted them home. The Searcy Police led the motorcade into town with the 12 buses full of 550-plus soldiers which included four different companies, the headquarters and staff.

Cynthia Smith of Mt. Pleasant was also anxiously waiting for her new husband, Jack. "I was widowed for over 10 years and now this," she said as she waited with tears in her eyes.

"Jack was going to ask me to marry him on November 2 on his birthday. But, because of the deployment, he moved it up a bit."

Her mother-in-law, Debra, said she remembers the day back in October very well. Jack, who is named after his paternal grandfather who also served in the military, phoned his mother at work to share the news.

He said, "Mom, I've asked Cindy to marry me." To which she said, "Oh, that's great, honey... He said, oh, I don't think you understand. We're getting married tonight. So, I told him, I guess that I need to take the rest of today off."

Jack and Cindy were married October 3 and Cindy wore her mother-in-law's wedding dress and Jack wore his military uniform. They have been together a total of 17 days in the last two months since they married.

"We didn't even have a honeymoon. We spent the time after we got married going around to see family," she said.

"I can't thank Wal-Mart enough," she said.

According to Rob P. Phillips, Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations for Wal-Mart in Bentonville, "It's just a real privilege for us to do this - bringing Arkansas families together for the holidays. We're so proud of all the military and especially those from Arkansas.

"This $70,000 we paid for the buses to bring the troops home for the holidays came from a "Together We Stand' fund established in the Wal-Mart Foundation. We established that fund to help where it is needed. This fund raised $16 million with money from both the Wal-Mart Foundation and Wal-Mart associates and customers to be used for the victims of September 11. We have already given money to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

"This week we were in New York City and gave $6 Million to the World Trade Center Fund, the Police and Fire Widows Fund and 10 fire houses that were most affected by the tragedy," Phillips said.

The week after Thanksgiving, Lt. Col Steve Womack, Battalion Commander, and also the mayor of Rogers (near Wal-Mart's Corporate office), contacted Wal-Mart to ask if they could help get the soldiers back to Arkansas. The military was unable to fund the cost of sending the soldiers home. Lee Scott, President and CEO for Wal-Mart immediately agreed, said Phillips.

Veterans Affairs