Local soldiers return home

Spc. Casey Warrick hugs her husband Michael for the first time in about six months. Staff photo by Haley Hughes.

AUGUSTA -- Spc. Casey Warrick is home again along with approximately 160 men and women of the 877th Engineering Company.

Casey, a native of Windsor, hasn't been home from Afghanistan for roughly six months, and she was welcomed with wide-open arms at the Georgia National Guard Armory by her husband Michael, stepson Tyler, mother-in-law Pattie, sister-in-law Christy Cobb, brother-in-law Bill Cobb and nephew Joshua Cobb.

"Once they turn her loose, she's ours," Pattie said while the family waited near Lake Olmstead Stadium for the soldiers to arrive. "I've had peace about her coming home."

The Company originally deployed in December 2010 and facilitated infrastructure improvements and construction projects in six provinces, according to Georgia Department of Defence Media Relations Officer 1st Lt. William Carraway.

The 877th Engineering Company was escorted to the Armory by an area motorcycle club, police, fire trucks and the Grovetown High School Band of Warriors. The welcome home ceremony also featured the Westside High School Patriot Pride Marching Band and the Lakeside High School Concert Choir, which sang "America the Beautiful."

"The questions she'd ask every day is, 'How's my cats, my dad, the family? Did you clean out the litter box?'" Michael said with a smile.

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver thanked the soldiers for their service to the United States and seemed to speak for the dense crowd gathered when he said he was glad each of them was home.

Not only is the 877th home for the holidays, but every single soldier made it back. The company didn't suffer any combat casualties during its 12-month deployment, though according to press materials, it engaged the enemy on 35 separate occasions.

"It feels good because it was bad over there. To see it (the company) come back with everyone is a miracle," Casey said.

Casey said the first thing on her agenda was to eat. She didn't care what, as long as it was "regular food."

Several months ago, Casey shared with Aiken Standard the story of how she fell in love with a dog she named Robo while in Afghanistan. Robo had six puppies, and she and fellow soldiers were able to pay an Afghani interpreter to transport Robo and her puppies to the Nowzad shelter in Kabul.

But it costs roughly $3,000 to $4,000 per dog to transport them from Kabul, Afghanistan, to the U.S.

Casey has been praying that enough money is donated to Nowzad to bring Robo and her litter to the U.S. She said Monday that Munchkin and Spot, two puppies she developed an especially strong bond with, are ready to be shipped here.

Warrick's family was able to keep up with her on a fairly regular basis through the social networking site Facebook and via Skype video phone calls. But nothing makes up for having her in person.

"I can't stand still right now," said Tyler who, along with Joshua, made a sign that read, "Welcome Home Casey."

It was not immediately clear if any other soldiers in the 877th are from Aiken County.