WELCOME HOME 1-180th INFANTRY

The 1-180 Infantry Battalion, Oklahoma Army National Guard, is returning from Afghanistan. These men and women are indeed some of the most special people in the entire world - I know this because I had the honor of serving in that Battalion as a young Captain. Currently lead by Lieutenant Colonel Bobby Yandell, the Battalion is returning from a "combat tour." For most of the soldiers it is their 2nd or 3rd tour in the Middle East within the last few years.

Starting in June 2002, the Battalion trained for a "Peace Keeping" mission in Egypt. From January 2003-July 2004, lead by now Colonel Kevin McNeely, the Battalion flexed American military muscle between the border of Egypt and Israel - maintaining a delicate peace agreement between the two nations governing rules within the Sinai desert. Some soldiers of the Battalion went with other units to Iraq; the entire Battalion went to Afghanistan with the 45th Separate Infantry Brigade; and then was tasked to go right back as a Battalion.

The sacrifices made by these men and women and their family members is so under appreciated - not for want of thankfulness, but for want of understanding with regard to the training, family hardships, professional (civilian career) hardships and employer hardships necessary to make these deployments successful.

TRUE PATRIOTS - these men and women deserve our most deep respect. Unlike an "active duty" soldier, there is no retirement rainbow at 40 or so years old. Rather, many of these men and women will serve more than 25 years and still not collect a penny of retirement if and until they live to 60 years of age. They get no health care benefits once released from their deployment; no re-employment assistance (accept the ability to hire a lawyer on their own dime if an employer violates USERRA); no mental health screening before discharge; and about 1/2 of the retirement at 60 that an active duty soldier gets 20 years earlier. These men and women do not do what they do for money - they do it for love of nation and love of freedom and they do not complain. Rather, they embrace the opportunity to serve. So the next time you see one of them ... or any soldier, sailor, airmen or marine ... say "THANK YOU!"

As we continue to go to the mall and the movies and on vacation, it is difficult to remember that the sons and daughters of America remain quietly in harm's way. Please try to remember to thank them for their sacrifices - even if you do not agree with the war. What is the saying? "Hate the game, not the player!"