Baylor Hosts Homecoming for Texas Army National Guards
After serving more than a year in Iraq, more than 170 Texas Army National Guardsmen of the 124th Calvary Squadron were honored at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center, on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005.
According to a report by Baylor University, about 1,500 family members joined the University’s crew to welcome the servicemen for the time they dedicated to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
They were saluted with the words, “Welcome home, heroes,” and were told that they “have not simply watched history – you are now part of it.”
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Each of the deployed troops returned home safely, and the soldiers were dismissed from their active duty following the ceremony.
Speakers at the Baylor event included Lt. Gen. Wayne D. Marty, Adjutant General of Texas; Maj. Gen. Michael H. Taylor, 36th Infantry Division commander; and U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-17th District. Members of the 124th Cavalry Squadron’s Family Support Group also received special recognition for their outstanding service, according to Baylor.
The 124th Calvary, based in Waco, is part of the historic 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, which was re-activated in July 2004. The soldiers served in Diyala Province, northeast of Baghdad, as part of the 89th Military Police Brigade from Fort Hood, according to Baylor. The soldiers were trained as military policemen at Fort Dix, N.J., for two months before going to Iraq, where their duties included convoy and area security, force protection operations and providing security for the historic Iraqi election.
