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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Soldiers in Afghanistan coming home in spring

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nearly 5,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers will come home from Afghanistan this spring after being relieved by troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, commanders said yesterday.

Most soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) arrived in Afghanistan in March and April for a one-year deployment. Army spokeswoman Maj. Stacy Bathrick said from Afghanistan that most will be returning in March 2005 as part of the normal rotation.

Odette Hatch, whose husband Sgt. Robert Hatch was deployed to Afghanistan in April, said he told her yesterday that he had heard they would be replaced by the 82nd Airborne, but wasn't sure when.

Robert Hatch's father, Col. Rick Hatch, and brothers, 1st Lt. Chris Hatch and Sgt. Russell Hatch, were all deployed to Afghanistan.

Odette Hatch said the Hatch men are doing "really well" and her husband was home for R&R two weeks ago. A military brat and a military spouse, Hatch said she's used to long deployments.

"I don't complain. I just let my husband do his job," she said. The couple's two daughters, ages 6 and 13, have adjusted, she said.

"They're used to it, especially my oldest. Daddy goes away, and Daddy comes home," Hatch said.

Many of the 25th's other troops are in Iraq. There was no further information yesterday on their deployment.

Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne based in Fort Bragg, N.C., are expected to start leaving their post in the spring and will be gone for a year. The paratroopers will be assigned with troops from the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade and replace the soldiers from the 25th Division.

The deployment will begin with about 3,000 soldiers and could reach about 5,000 once all the needs are known and more orders issued, Army officials said.

Some 65 percent of the soldiers have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan before, and will bring valuable experience to this mission, said Col. Patrick Donahue, who will command the Fort Bragg soldiers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.