In March 2006, the Phantoms "adopted" the 5th Platoon from the A Company's, 710th Brigade Support Battalion. The Liquid Lead Platoon (rhymes with reed), as they are known, includes a host of Philadelphia natives. They are currently in the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In advance of the yearlong overseas service, the Phantoms outfitted the Platoon with a selection of team shirts, hats and other garb. The team will continue to support the soldiers of the 5th Platoon during their service in the Middle East with correspondence and care packages.
Platoon leader SFC James Brown, who is originally from Philadelphia, is keeping this blog on Phantomshockey.com while the unit is deployed.
Welcome Home
As the last of the 710th Brigade Support Battalion Soldiers arrived back at Fort Drum early in the morning of June 11th, homecoming ceremonies were a plenty as were teary eyed family members. Family members were anxiously awaiting the ceremony’s conclusion. After the guest speaker, Major General Oates (the 10th Mountain Division’s Commanding General), concluded his brief comments welcoming the Soldiers home, family members peered out into the group of 250 Soldiers that had just endured the 20 hour flight back home. The eyes wandered over the Warriors looking for their loved one. Once spotted, it is almost impossible to keep the little ones from running out to their father or mother before the ceremony ends.
The Commanding General’s comments end and the loved ones dart through the ranks of the Soldiers to grab their Soldier and welcome them home. Stars and Stripes and yellow ribbons are everywhere, families and friends were all on hand to welcome home the Soldiers, many of them returning from 16 month deployments to Afghanistan. During their times in Afghanistan the Soldiers from the platoon exhibited the courage and commitment to one another and the mission. They completed remarkable missions in this rugged terrain. They learned more and more about one another and more importantly, more about themselves.
So in closing to wrap up another deployment in the life of a Soldier, we would like to thank the Philadelphia Phantoms organization and their first class fans. The support that you have shown these Soldiers kept their heads in the game, and reminded each and every one of us has chosen to serve. The support of the American public is a critical asset in the morale of a Soldier. These are your sons and daughters that chose to serve, many of them knowing that they were going to be contributing their little piece that meant so much to our nation. Most of them enlisted in the military knowing that they would be deploying in support of this country’s War on Terrorism. They have encountered firsthand terrorists loyal to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and came out on top.
Thank you to the Public Relations department of the Philadelphia Phantoms: Mike Thornton and his crew down in Philly supporting a platoon from a base over 300 miles away in upstate NY, and deployed nearly 7,000 miles away, allowing me to tell the story of the platoon and allowing families to see photos of their loved ones. Another thanks to John Stevens, not only a hall of fame player, but a first class act, thanks for the words of encouragement. Frank Miceli, thank you as well for the opportunity to tell our story and for the support of our families back at home. Below are some photos of our return home, so enjoy, thank you once again and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at the Phantoms games.
