West Palm Beach, FL - With great pride and gratitude, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) staff and a host of community leaders welcomed home one of their own, U.S. Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Fred J. Coleman, from his second tour in Afghanistan.
"At home, Fred is an instrumental member of our land management team protecting South Florida's water resources. Abroad, he is a citizen soldier protecting our country's freedom,"
said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe.
"Fred's dedication to South Florida and the nation embodies the values we live by at SFWMD."
Coleman is also a prime example of the sacrifices made by citizen soldiers and their families. The St. Cloud native was deployed to Bagram Air Base just four months after joining SFWMD. His second child, Emmett, was born while he was on active duty.
"While we were over there, we were appreciative of all the support we got from friends, family and colleagues here at work," Coleman said. "It meant a lot receiving care packages and getting access to all the things we take for granted here."
In Afghanistan, the staff sergeant worked in munitions systems, which means he helped stockpile, assemble and deliver bombs, missiles and other ammunition to aircraft.
In Florida, he will be back on an airboat Monday in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes fighting exotic and nuisance plants such as water hyacinth that can clog waterways and choke out native vegetation.
"This experience," he said, "puts life into perspective . . . Being as safe as possible and being able to go home and take care of your family when you get back definitely takes precedence over the little things."
Grateful supporters at the homecoming included:
- Coleman's family and friends
- St. Cloud Mayor and City Council members
- SFWMD St. Cloud Field Station staff
- SFWMD Assistant Executive Director
- St. Cloud Police Department
- Kissimmee Police Department
- Osceola County Sheriff's Office
- Osceola County veterans' museum
