Families Reunite as 623rd Returns Home

By Allyson Dix, Managing Editor/Barren County Progress

*** More photos are at the end of the article.

There were no shortages of hugs, smiles, or tears upon the arrival home of the 1-623rd Field Artillery Regiment on Saturday evening. Many local and state law enforcement officers escorted the charter buses to the armory in Glasgow before the soldiers offloaded into the parking lot to reunite with their loved ones after a 293-day deployment.

 

A total of over 300 soldiers from the 623rd FA deployed in support of the U.S. Army Central Command’s Operation Spartan Shield throughout Southwest Asia. Around 95 soldiers were those from the Glasgow-Barren community with the entire unit arriving in different area counties on Saturday.

 

Last December, deployment ceremonies were held in nearby counties, including Barren where local leaders, families, and community members gathered to support the soldiers and their mission.

 

Before their deployment last year, Glasgow native Maj. Jason T. Simpson promised to care for each of the soldiers during their time away, stating, “To the families and loved ones, you have my solemn commitment that your soldiers will be taken care of.”

 

Simpson’s promise was upheld and was seen in its entirety when the soldiers rounded the corner of the armory on Saturday.

 

Before the soldiers arrived home on Saturday, the Barren County Progress spoke with some of the parents and family members.

 

Gena Williams shared that while the entire time has been difficult with her son, Matt Hagan, being overseas, Christmastime was the most difficult for the family. She was excited to hug her son for the first time since early December 2023.

“It has been a long deployment,” Williams said, holding back tears. “We missed Christmas with him and that was very hard, especially for his wife (Veronica) and his four children.”

 

Gary Epperson, father of Cody Epperson with 623rd, walked into the armory over an hour before the soldiers’ expected return with a radiance beyond words and a beaming smile. Before he even spoke, his genuine happiness was easily observed.

 

Gary said Cody is a firefighter in their hometown of Winchester, Kentucky, as well as an EMT, and a Sergeant in the National Guard.

 

“I’m excited and I will be glad to see him,” Gary said. “I’ve been taking care of his dog for the last ten months and she’s a handful.”

 

Cody’s mother, Teresa Epperson, also shared through a few tears that the last ten months have been difficult and time has moved by slowly.

 

“Today doesn’t seem like it’s really real that he’s finally here,” Teresa said, sharing that Cody has served in the National Guard for the last 12 years and this was his first deployment.

 

Nash Johnson’s family were also early arrivals at the armory well in advance of the soldiers’ return including his brother Eli Johnson, who recently returned home from a separate deployment.

 

Nash and Eli’s mother, Kim Johnson, who resides in Greensburg, Kentucky, said having both of her sons deployed overseas at the same time has been heartwrenching. She comes from a military family and shared that her father, Larry Marcum, was a Desert Storm veteran who deployed in the 1990s.

 

“Eli just returned with the 138 unit from Jordan and Nash as a member of this 623rd unit is just returning,” Kim said, adding there was a four-month lapse between both of her sons’ deployments.

 

When discussing what life is like with both of her sons overseas, Kim said, “It’s hard. I’m a widow and I depend on them a lot and with both of them being gone at the same time, a lot of it fell on my dad and the rest of the family. We just buckled down to take care of each other through storms and snow.”

 

While it feels like a “vague memory” today, Kim said Christmas was also a difficult time for the family and the last ten months have proved to be an adjustment. Also, Eli’s deployment happened shortly before the war began after the Hamas attack on Israel making it a more worrying time.

 

While the brothers were deployed, Eli’s wife, Sami Jo, said they were able to see one another, which presumably brought familiar comfort to the two soldiers.

 

On behalf of the Barren County Progress and Jobe Publishing, Inc., we extend our heartfelt gratitude and wish to thank each and every servicemember as well as their families for the service and sacrifices these soldiers have given for each one of us and for our future generations.

Task Force Spartan is a unique, multi-component organization comprising active Army, National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve units. Since 2011, Operation Spartan Shield, Task Force Spartan has maintained U.S. military presence in Southwest Asia where they have been involved in a range of military activities aimed at promoting regional security and stability.

 

In 2020, 1-623rd FA provided invaluable support during civil disturbances in Louisville, helping to maintain peace and order during challenging times. From 2020-21, the same battalion stepped up in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted various hospitals throughout the state demonstrating their commitment to the well-being of our fellow Kentuckians.

 

Soldiers of the 1-623rd participated in the Western Kentucky Storm Response in 2021 and the snow and ice storms in 2022 with a swift response that was instrumental in preserving lives and property.

 

The 1-623rd Field Artillery was established in 1846 as the 1st Kentucky Calvary and 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Kentucky Militia. It reorganized multiple times during the Civil War with units siding with the Union and Confederate forces.

 

Post-war, another reorganization occurred in the Kentucky State Guard and later became part of the Kentucky National Guard. It has evolved through various designations, including the 149th Infantry and 123rd Calvary.

 

In 1920-21, it was reorganized as the 1^st Infantry and 53^rd/54th Machine Gun Squadrons with the latter consolidating into the 123^rd Calvary and later transforming into the 106^th Separate Battalion, Coast Artillery, during World War II.

 

Post-WWII, it was re-designated as the 623rd Field Artillery Regiment before experiencing further transformations until adopting the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System in 1994 as the 1st Battalion, 623^rd Field Artillery. In 2010, the 623rd adopted HIMARS, or the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. HIMARS is a highly versatile and effective military system that offers several key advantages, making it special and sought after by armed forces around the world.

 

For more than 200 years, the Kentucky National Guard has answered the call to our nation and the Commonwealth and continues to stand ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.