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Area National Guard Unit Returns Home For Christmas

Members of a local National Guard unit returned home Friday from Afghanistan just in time for Christmas.

The 170 members of the 1165th Military Police Company based in Fairhope and Brewton arrived back in Fairhope mid-morning Friday as hundreds of people lined the streets to show their support.

The soldiers, several of which live in the North Escambia area, deployed for Afghanistan in January. They have spent the last 11 months in the Kabul area. They will spend Christmas at home before heading back to Mississippi next week to complete their end of mission paperwork.

Sgt. Chester Tolbert, a Jay resident assigned to the 1165th, was recently awarded for his actions while in Afghanistan. Click here for a earlier NorthEscambia.com story about  the Century Correctional Institution employee.

Two Brewton natives in the 1165th assigned to NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan also received awards a few days ago  for actions taken in early August when their team successfully combated an insurgent attack in Kabul.

U.S. Army Spcs. Daniel Fowler (pictured left) and Brandon Hammack helped defeat a multiphased attack in which insurgents used small-arms and improvised explosive devices to attack the British Council Building, a base located in a relatively upscale area of the country’s capital used for education and helping Afghanistan’s civil society groups. Although no U.S. service members were harmed, twelve people died in the attack.

Commander, Task Force Yankee Army Brig. Gen. John Hammond presented 10 soldiers with Joint Service Achievement Medals and combat action badges, one soldier with a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a combat medical badge, one soldier with an Army Commendation Medal and one soldier with a combat action badge.

Pictured top: Sgt. Chest Tolbert of Jay, a member of the 1165th Military Police Company, helps an Afghan National Police officer detect vehicle threat indications in the heart of downtown Kabul last early last month. Pictured inset: U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Fowler of Brewton, also a member of the 1165th, receives a Joint Service Achievement Medal and a combat action badge. Pictured below: U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Hammock of Brewton was also awarded the medals. Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.