Florida National Guard soldiers to return from Iraq

Local troops return from Iraq
Detachment back after year in Iraq
Posted: November 3, 2011

By JENNIFER EDWARDS
jennifer.edwards@staugustine.com
Detachment back after year in Iraq

Of the hundreds of people waiting in the Mark W. Lance Armory for their Florida National Guard soldiers to return from Iraq, one of the youngest was quiet Thursday.

Nickolas Matthews, 7 months, seemed calm as mother Nekeia Matthews held him.

He was dressed in a mini-uniform, complete with pins, that a family member made from one of the uniforms of Capt. Charlton Matthews, commander of the National Guard 1153rd financial management detachment and Nickolas’ father.

Nickolas was born while Matthews was deployed, but “he saw it on Skype,” Nekeia Matthews said.

Father and son met briefly in March a couple of days after the tot was born, but they didn’t get to see each other again until Thursday, when the 25-member detachment came home again.

“We’re so happy they are back and safe,” Nekeia Matthews said.

For his part, Charlton Matthews, of Orlando, looked serene as he held his child in his arms after a brief ceremony celebrating the soldiers’ return.
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