No Homecoming For National Guard Troops

By ABC-7 Reporter Daniel Marin

EL PASO, Texas – Dianna White says her daughter, a curly-haired three-year-old named Mariah, has been waiting to see her daddy for the last 15 months.

But White says her husband Jose’s homecoming is going to be a little less special than she pictured after she was told Fort Bliss doesn’t plan on holding any type of ceremony for the soldiers of the 56th Brigade Texas National Guard.

ABC-7 has reported on plenty of soldier returns at Biggs Army Airfield, complete with music, lights, smoke machines and happy reunions.

But the 1,200 men and women of the 56th Brigade won’t see any of that when as they return from Iraq. In fact, as soon as they step off the plane, they’ll be whisked away for several more days of demobilization. Military officials say that should actually get the soldiers back with their families quicker.

Christina Gutierrez doesn’t buy that reasoning. “They’re not doing the ceremony because they’re National Guard,” she told ABC-7.

“Active duty is active duty, regardless of whether they’re National Guard,” Barbara Robins agreed.

Robins counts on her collection of angels to watch over her 25-year-old son Justin. She also keeps his extra set of dog tags hanging from a crucifix. As you’d imagine, she doesn’t like feeling her son isn’t getting his fair share.

The Deputy Commander of the 56th Brigade explained many of the soldiers are from all over Texas. He says the service is planning a big awards ceremony for all 1,200 soldiers in December, so they wouldn’t want to make those out-of-town families make the trip to El Paso twice.