The recent news that a member of the 1165th Military Police Company, based in Fairhope, is one of 33 honored for their valor during a Sept. 13 firefight outside the New Kabul Compound in Afghanistan is another example of the caliber of young men and women from the Gulf Coast area who have served their country with honor and distinction as citizen soldiers over the past decade.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Carroll, the noncommissioned officer in charge of force protection, received the Joint Service Commendation medal, which is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service. He has served in the National Guard for 22 years.

The 1165th left for Afghanistan Jan. 3 for what was expected to be a one-year deployment. Currently, they are expected to return some time in December.

Previously, the 1165th deployed to Iraq in 2003. In that nearly 15-month-long deployment, the MP company earned three citations for its service, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest award granted to military units that have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act. The unit also received a Valorous Unit Award and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Several unit members were injured in that deployment when an IED struck one of their convoys. One member, Army Spc. Christopher “Big T” Taylor, 25, made the ultimate sacrifice. He died in the Feb. 16, 2004 incident.

It must be noted that another Guardsman, Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, 19, of Daphne, died in Iraq in 2003, when the tire he was changing on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter exploded. He was serving with Co. E. 131st Aviation Regiment of the Alabama National Guard. Others along the Gulf Coast have served with other National Guard units in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We sincerely hope that when these men and women return to our shores, there will be no need to call on them again. They and their families deserve to rebuild their lives and enjoy the bounty and blessings of our country that we have continued to enjoy in their absence. Their job is done — and done well.

We can only welcome them back home and profusely thank them for their service and reiterate our sincere sympathy for those families who will never experience such a reunion.