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Illinois Local Welcomes Home Afghanistan Veteran

October 8, 2009

In his nearly 20-year Army career, Chris Collins has trained, been stationed in or deployed to a half-dozen countries around the world, from South Korea to Bosnia.

But after finishing up his recent tour in Afghanistan, Collins admits that coming home never felt better.

He returned to his native Illinois and his family and friends in early September. “My wife told me that she could feel it in my hug how relieved I was to be back,” Collins said.

Rockford, Ill., Local 364 apprentice Chris Collins
shows off his Local 364 flag he was presented
before his recent tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Members of Rockford Local 364, where Collins is a second-year apprentice, are also glad to have him back, honoring his service with a special ceremony at the local’s monthly meeting in September. They also honored his service by displaying pictures of him at recent union meetings.

“We salute him and thank Brother Collins for the selfless sacrifice of his time and talent to defend our nation,” said Local 364 Business Manager Darrin Golden.

Collins joined the military soon after high school, serving nine years in the Army and another nine in the National Guard. He was inspired to go into the electrical trade by a friend of the family who is an IBEW member. “I had a pretty healthy fear of electricity, but after doing some tinkering around with some electrical parts in my master bathroom, I decided I had what it takes to become an apprentice.”

He had just finished his first year, when his guard unit was called up for service in Afghanistan in 2008. During his time overseas, Collins was stationed with a protective security detail, which was in charge of escorting VIP visitors – mostly high-ranking officers – around Kabul during their stays in Afghanistan.

His tour of duty coincided with increased Taliban attacks on the capital city, putting Collins through a few close calls. Last January, while sitting in a classroom at a neighboring base camp learning about IED’s, his home base camp was hit by a suicide bomber a half-mile away.

And the night before he was scheduled to go home, his camp came under attack from rocket-propelled grenades.  “Luckily it didn’t do much damage,” Collins said.

Before Collins left for Afghanistan, he was presented with a local 364 flag to fly on his base. “It helped me remember all the brothers and sisters back home,” he said.

“It’s great to be home and get back into the old routine.”