An SASR soldier shares a special moment with his new baby during the welcome home ceremony held at Campbell Barracks

4RAR(Cdo) return to Holsworthy

‘You can embrace a very well-deserved reunion with your families and a very well-deserved break’ – CDF Gen Peter Cosgrove

By Pte John Wellfare
SPECIAL Forces soldiers from 4RAR(Cdo) and their support elements were welcomed home by friends and family recently, with chief military and political leaders passing on the thanks of a grateful nation.

The Holsworthy-based soldiers returned home safely to the relief of over 600 loved-ones who packed the OR’s mess at 4RAR(Cdo)’s Malaya Lines.

CDF Gen Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister John Howard were among the key figures at hand to praise the soldiers and their families for the sacrifices made over the months of the deployment to the Middle East.

Gen Cosgrove said it went without saying that the gathered families were immensely proud of the returning soldiers and the job they had done.

“You can embrace a well-deserved reunion with your families and a very well deserved break,” he said.

Members of the special forces task group, some of whom deployed as early as last November, were all smiles as they met up with their families.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said one soldier from 2 Int Coy.

“I’ll be catching up with family and friends and everything you take for granted here in Australia.”

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