Guard Soldiers Return From Sinai Peacekeeping Mission

National Guard, Mar 2007 by Mateo, Lek

Texas

Steadily falling ice-cold rain couldn't dampen the spirits of members of the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment arriving home from the Sinai Peninsula to loved ones at Abrams Field House on Fort Hood, Texas, Jan. 23.

The soldiers were returning after serving a year with the Multi-National Force and Observers (MFO), which observes and upholds the peace between Egypt and Israel.

The MFO is an international force created as a result of the 1978 Camp David Accords and the 1979 Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel.

Nations worldwide have contributed forces to the mission, which today is the U.S. military's longest-standing peace-keeping mission.

Maj. Gen. John T Furlow, 36th Infantry Division commander, formally welcomed the soldiers standing in formation.

"You have placed service for the sake of our country above your own life," he said.

The ceremony, however, was bittersweet for Lt. Col. Lee Schnell, task force commander.

About half of his 450 soldiers were unable to attend the event due to flight delays.

"I'm honored to have been a part of this deployment and having served with you," he said to those in attendance. "And I look forward to uncasing our colors when the rest of our soldiers are home."

Linda L. Srubar of Liberty Hill, Texas, was one of the fortunate spouses whose husband, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Srubar, was in formation.

She said the separation was harder than she imagined. Still, she said she was proud of her husband's accomplishment that helped "bring peace to other people."

"Knowing that my whole family, community and employer are behind me and proud of what I'm doing makes this deployment gratifying," Sergeant Srubar said.

-By Master Sgt. Lek Mateo