MONROE, La.
(KTVE) After 10 months spent overseas in Kuwait, with missions to Iraq, Jordan and Afghanistan, more than 150 soldiers with the National Guard’s 1023rd Engineer Company are back on Louisiana soil.
The Company Commander Ross Bethea said, “You can go all over the world, but there is nothing like Louisiana.”
It is an emotional moment at the Monroe airport as the soldiers reunited with their loved ones on Christmas Eve.
“It is the best Christmas present ever. That’s all I can say,” Bethea said. “Best Christmas present ever.”
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said this is the first time in 13 years all members of Louisiana’s National Guard have been home for the holidays.
“They’ve missed birthdays. They’ve missed anniversaries and holidays. For the families I am so grateful they will get to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. The best present you can give to a mom, child is to bring their loved one back,” Jindal said.
One soldier, Ray Schindler Jr. came home to a new name, “Uncle.”
As the family waited for his arrival, Schindler’s father, Ray Schindler Sr. said, “This is his two-month-old niece.”
Pointing to his granddaughter’s t-shirt, the elder Schindler added, “You can see it says ‘I love my uncle.’ He hasn’t met her yet, and we have a sign over there that says she has been waiting her whole life to meet him. Its going to be fantastic. He is very excited.”
After meeting the baby, Ray Jr. said, “I was so happy. She is gorgeous. I’m overwhelmed right now. I am just so happy to be home.”
The family said having Schindler back for the holidays is better than any gift they got under the Christmas tree.
Schindler’s father said, “They have to deploy and do their job, which we are very proud of, but a Christmas eve homecoming is great!”
“It means the world to all of us. We are so happy to see everybody and be back home on Christmas with our families,” Ray Jr. said.
