34th Division MP Co. Welcome Home - Camp Ripley

January 24, 2010

Background:

This is a completed mission report for the mission to honor the soldiers of the 34th Division MP Comapny returning from the sandbox from the war on terror. They were returning by two vans today to Camp Ripley MN. We did not do an escort.

Staging and Briefing:

For the flag-line at Camp Ripley we staged at the Canteen across the road from the gated main entrance to Camp Ripley. We had 10 dedicated PGR members show up despite the freezing rain and the potentially bad driving conditions. All were seasoned PGR members so there was a short briefing just to tell everyone the details of the mission.

Flag-line Mission:

After arriving at Camp Ripley we set up to wait for the troops. After the long 2 hour wait at the Canteen the wait on the flag line was very short before the two vans with the eleven troops came rolling in amid sirens and flashing lights and horns blaring.

The troops looked exhausted and this is the first bunch that we have welcomed home that were not all smiles. Some PGR members helped to carry in the gear from the vans. Lord, those back packs are heavy. In case you have never carried one you should try as it is a real experience. I learned to find the ones that were a little lighter.

After arriving at the camp the PGR were generously thanked for the welcome and then the troops met their families and we were dismissed. We then had a chance to mingle with the troops for a short time and then we all left.

Debriefing:

There was no debriefing as everyone wanted to go home and watch the Vikings lose.

(@) Pictures from mission, by John "Flash" Thomas

Jason Olson RCIC
Brainerd RC