Great Story! Civilians give back. HOG members help welcome home soldiers

By JAKE LOWARY
The Leaf-Chronicle

J.B. Morgan's attendance Sunday night at a homecoming of 238 101st Airborne Division soldiers was his first as a welcomer, but he recalls returning to Fort Campbell as a soldier during his 22-year military career.

Morgan is director of the Tuckasee chapter of Harley Owner's Group and was with about a dozen fellow motorcyclists, all of them veterans.

"You have to give back to soldiers," he said. "Plus, we enjoy doing stuff like this."

Morgan said the group also has members serving overseas.

The HOG members were manning the refreshment stand Sunday night for the first time, something they hope do again with the help and sponsorship of Appleton Harley-Davidson in Clarksville.

Handing out crackers, hot cocoa and coffee was not the only thing the bikers offered.

"We're going to tell (soldiers) 'Call somebody and tell them you're home,'" Morgan said.

The returning soldiers Sunday night were largely members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team - 228 worth - and another 10 were from the 3rd BCT, who arrived on a military flight.

One of those soldiers who returned Sunday, Sgt. Anthony Collins, was just in the nick of time. His son, Isaiah, turned 7 on Sunday.

"This is going to be a really big surprise," said Anthony Collins' sister, Lucretia, one of about half a dozen family members waiting to greet him.

"To see family is the most important thing," she said.

Although many soldiers were returning ahead of the planned 15-month mark, it was still tough for the families.

"It was a lot harder than I expected," said Ashley Warner, who welcomed home her husband, Pfc. David Warner, from his first deployment.

"But it was worth it," she quickly added.

Early Sunday morning, 338 members of the 2nd BCT, 3rd BCT and 101st Adjunct General returned to Fort Campbell.