Coming Home - Fort Knox

Last month I covered the return of 250 soldiers from Afghanistan to Fort Knox, Ky. for Getty Images. Troop returns are a lot of fun to photograph, though capturing the fleeting moments and gathering accurate caption information can be hectic and stressful as a photojournalist. There's something about seeing soldiers return from war and reunite with their families that resonates deeply inside me. Witnessing so many joyous reunions in a short period of time often causes tears of my own to well up and block my viewfinder. Still, I feel a tinge of sadness in my heart as I long for the reunion I never had with my cousin, Pfc. David H. Sharrett. Welcome home, troops.


Rachel Wolfston and her 2-year-old daughter Alexia wait to greet Spc. Joshua Wilson of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, during a homecoming ceremony in the Natcher Physical Fitness Center on Fort Knox in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 20, 2013 in Fort Knox, Ky. About 250 soldiers from 3rd Brigade returned to Fort Knox after a nine-month combat deployment working alongside Afghan military and police forces in Afghanistan's Zabul Province. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)


(L-R) Sophie Overholt and Isabella McDougall hold signs welcoming home their respective fathers during a homecoming ceremony for troops from the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Fort Knox, Ky.


Renae Thomas kneels with her two nephews, Connor and Ty, as she waits to greet her brother, Sgt. Joey Thomas of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, during a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


Children hold signs welcoming home family members during a homecoming ceremony in Fort Knox.


Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stand at attention behind a curtain during a homecoming ceremony in the Natcher Physical Fitness Center at Fort Knox.


Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stand at attention while being introduced during a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


Kristy Amborn embraces Sgt. Eric Winksi of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, following a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


Marlene Aceves embraces her husband Spc. Matthew Aceves of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.


Spc. Michael Fashion holds his daughter Malia Banks, 5, following a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


Pfc. Tyra Guy of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, holds a bouquet of flowers and a ballon given to her by her fiance after a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


Spc. Troy Harrison of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, is reunited with his 2-year-old son Avery Harrison after a nine-motnh deployment to Afghanistan's Zabul Province.




SSG William Laflin of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, poses for photographs with his 9-month-old daughter Emmalyn Laflin and his wife Gina Laflin.


Sgt. Michelle Porter of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, takes a selfie with her 2-year-old daughter Jade Porter following a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.


(L-R) SSG Jarrod Mudderman and SSG Tobbie Kinley of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, retire the colors following a homecoming ceremony at Fort Knox.

Thanks for looking!

**Photos copyright Luke Sharrett and Getty Images**

Posted by Luke S at 3:48 PM