Hundreds of green duffle bags were stacked in piles, like bags of mulch, at the ticket counters.
A sea of young trainees in camouflage masks and Army uniforms marched through the Columbia Metropolitan Airport ushered by drill sergeants through security. Some eager soldiers grabbed hot coffee and sugar cookies handed out by volunteers. A few of the privates moseyed to their terminal gate early, taking time to charge their cellphones or text loved ones.
It’s a stressful process filtering 6,000 soldiers and trainees out of Fort Jackson to points across the country during a pandemic. But it’s all for a good reason.
These service members were heading home for the holidays.
It’s a stressful process filtering 6,000 soldiers and trainees out of Fort Jackson to points across the country during a pandemic. But it’s for a good reason.
They're heading home for the holidays.https://t.co/29ad5Gq45Q
— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) December 24, 2020