Newtown Soldiers Welcomed Home

Sgt Thomas Monckton and Spc Louis Enriquez, from Alpha Company 1st Battalion 102nd Infantry (Mountain), Connecticut National Guard (A Co 1-102nd INF (MTN), returned home November 19 following a yearlong deployment in eastern Afghanistan.

The troops were part of the largest deployment in the history of Connecticut when they headed to Afghanistan in November 2009. During this mission they conducted light infantry operations, training local forces (Afghan National Army), and various missions including a large scale operation in Laghman Province.

While in country, Sgt Monckton received Alpha Company Soldier of the Year in 2007 (during the first of two deployments), 1/102 Battalion Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year 2010 and The CIB Award.

Spc Enriquez, an expert marksman, received the Combat Infantry Award during this tour. The honor pays tribute to their brother in arms, Staff Sgt Edwin Rivera, 28, of Waterford, who died during this tour of wounds sustained May 20 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire at Contingency Outpost Xio Haq, Afghanistan.

The Enriquez family would like to offer special thanks to Pat Caruso and Bill Calderara from The Rotary Club of Newtown; Danny Kearns from VFW Post 308; and John Parille from New Fairfield Press, all of whom had a role in preparing and the placement of the banner currently hanging across Queen Street honoring the hometown heroes.