1086th to return next week

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 17, 2003

VIDALIA &045; The 1086th Transportation Company is set to arrive in Louisiana in less than a week, according to company spokesman.

But exactly when they’ll get the chance to hug their loved ones and head back to Vidalia is still anyone’s guess.

Nine months after being called up to serve in Iraq, the company is due to arrive in Alexandria at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

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&uot;Beyond that, we don’t know anything yet,&uot; said Lt. Brian Stevens, a spokesman for the unit.

After arriving in Fort Polk, the soldiers will undergo five days of outprocessing before returning to Vidalia, where the local Louisiana Army National Guard armory is located.

The original word was that the soldiers could arrive at Fort Polk as early as this weekend &045; in which case, they could have returned home to Vidalia briefly before returning to the base for outprocessing.

When comes to the military, all plans are subject to change &045; but families are still busy preparing for the unit’s scheduled return next week.

&uot;We’ve got a lot of catching up to do,&uot; said Wanda Durham of Concordia Parish, whose husband, Ferris, is a member of the 1086th. &uot;And with it being around the holidays, it’s going to be really special.&uot;

The unit’s Family Support Group plans to hold a homecoming celebration at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 for the 1086th, with the unit also riding in the Vidalia Christmas parade at 3 p.m. that day.

They will also ride in the Ferriday Christmas parade.