Jade Jensen, 6, shows her father, Staff Sgt. Kelly Jensen, a picture she colored, during the Detachment B, 230th Financial Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, welcome home ceremony Nov. 8, 2016, at the 4th SB headquarters. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class John Cortez)
By Sgt. 1st Class John Cortez
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
With the room filled with signs and anxious loved ones, Families and friends welcomed home Detachment B, 230th Financial Management Support Detachment, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., Nov. 9, 2016, at the brigade headquarters.
The Soldiers returned from a nine-month deployment in support of military operations in Afghanistan.
“I am deeply honored to stand here before you. Most of you are young Soldiers on your first unit assignment and have just finished completing your first combat tour,” said Maj. Ricardo Ortiz, commander, 230th FMSU, during the welcome home ceremony. “I am honored to serve alongside you because when this was started about 15 years ago most of you were young children growing up in a privileged nation, with no obligation to serve, and yet you still had the courage to sacrifice any comfort you might have to join the 1 percent of Americans who serve and defend this nation. I am proud of you.”
During their time in Afghanistan, the detachment provided financial management support to more than 20,000 U.S. military service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors.
“For half of our guys, this was their first time deploying,” said Capt. Morgan McCreary, commander, Det. B, 230th FMSU. “They all did a great job preparing for and performing their mission over there.
We had our challenges, but overall I can’t be any more proud of our guys.”
Staff Sgt. Keith Wong said it was great to be back home with his wife and daughter.
“It was a long deployment, but I am happy to be back and grateful to see my Family,” Wong said. “We had a few close calls in Afghanistan, but we all made it home safe.”
Wong’s wife, Susanne, shared the sentiment.
“I’m just happy that he’s back home and safe,” she said.
Ortiz highlighted some of the detachment’s accomplishments during the deployment including the re-enlistment of two “Renegade” Soldiers, two members winning
NCO and Soldier of the Month boards and four Soldiers being promoted. He noted the most important feat was that each member of Detachment B came home safe and sound.