Whoops, Hollers Greet Iowa Soldiers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Family members cheered, some cried and others just waited anxiously for a chance to hug their loved ones.
Emotional, tear-filled scenes played out in city after city across Iowa on Monday. Iowa National Guard soldiers who had spent the past 13 months in Afghanistan finally were home.
Police cruisers and firetrucks with emergency lights flashing led a troop bus into Carroll along a route lined with spectators. Dozens of relatives cheered returning soldiers at a sports complex near Fort Dodge. Gov. Tom Vilsack helped welcome soldiers at Camp Dodge north of Des Moines.
"I want to thank you for putting a face on our freedom," Vilsack said.
National Guard troops also returned to ceremonies in Davenport, North Liberty, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Sioux City, Denison and Corning.
Soldiers will be welcomed home today in Council Bluffs and Shenandoah.
About 700 soldiers from several Iowa units were mobilized in February 2004 and trained at Fort Hood, Texas, for three months before deploying to Afghanistan. Units included infantry, engineers, artillery, medical personnel and air assault battalions.
One soldier from Task Force 168 was killed in action in Afghanistan. Spec. James C. Kearney III, 22, of Emerson died Nov. 1 when his convoy was ambushed by rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire.
Task Force 168 was the largest mobilization of an Iowa National Guard unit for overseas duty since World War II, officials said.
"Personally, I thank you for your commitment to excellence, your dedication to duty, the sacrifices that you and your family have made and, above all, your willingness to serve," Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, the Iowa Guard's top officer, told soldiers in Davenport.
Spectators cheered and waved flags when 46 soldiers marched into a high school football stadium. As the soldiers stood in formation in their battle dress uniforms of desert camouflage, Mayor Charlie Brooke told them, "On behalf of the entire Quad Cities and indeed all of America, I thank you for fighting our fight. Thank you for fighting for freedom."
Some 300 family members and friends welcomed 38 soldiers in North Liberty as the 1970s rock song "The Boys Are Back in Town" blared from speakers.
Spec. Jennifer Zarr, 22, who's from Iowa City and attends the University of Iowa, said it was strange in a way to be back home."I keep expecting to see mountains in the distance and there is no dust blowing all over," she said.
At Camp Dodge in Johnston, about 450 people hooted, hollered and cheered as 50 infantry soldiers marched into an armory. A soldier dressed in a blue cavalry uniform and riding a horse led the troopers while bagpipe music played in the background. "The first thing that I noticed when I got off the bus was the smell," said Staff Sgt. Ted Strait of Huxley. "Iowa smells good and looks green."
A crowd estimated at 1,000 cheered as 60 soldiers marched into a high school gym in Carroll. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, told the troops they were part of history, saying what they had done "makes all of us safe and we're a grateful nation."
When the Guard troops were officially dismissed from active duty, relatives mobbed them in a rush of tears, sobs, screams and hugs.
"I can't describe it," said Cade Iversen of Vail, who was mobbed by his four young siblings and his wife, Ann. "It's the best feeling in the world."
Family members cheered, some cried and others just waited anxiously for a chance to hug their loved ones.
Emotional, tear-filled scenes played out in city after city across Iowa on Monday. Iowa National Guard soldiers who had spent the past 13 months in Afghanistan finally were home.
Police cruisers and firetrucks with emergency lights flashing led a troop bus into Carroll along a route lined with spectators. Dozens of relatives cheered returning soldiers at a sports complex near Fort Dodge. Gov. Tom Vilsack helped welcome soldiers at Camp Dodge north of Des Moines.
"I want to thank you for putting a face on our freedom," Vilsack said.
National Guard troops also returned to ceremonies in Davenport, North Liberty, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Sioux City, Denison and Corning.
Soldiers will be welcomed home today in Council Bluffs and Shenandoah.
About 700 soldiers from several Iowa units were mobilized in February 2004 and trained at Fort Hood, Texas, for three months before deploying to Afghanistan. Units included infantry, engineers, artillery, medical personnel and air assault battalions.
One soldier from Task Force 168 was killed in action in Afghanistan. Spec. James C. Kearney III, 22, of Emerson died Nov. 1 when his convoy was ambushed by rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire.
Task Force 168 was the largest mobilization of an Iowa National Guard unit for overseas duty since World War II, officials said.
"Personally, I thank you for your commitment to excellence, your dedication to duty, the sacrifices that you and your family have made and, above all, your willingness to serve," Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, the Iowa Guard's top officer, told soldiers in Davenport.
Spectators cheered and waved flags when 46 soldiers marched into a high school football stadium. As the soldiers stood in formation in their battle dress uniforms of desert camouflage, Mayor Charlie Brooke told them, "On behalf of the entire Quad Cities and indeed all of America, I thank you for fighting our fight. Thank you for fighting for freedom."
Some 300 family members and friends welcomed 38 soldiers in North Liberty as the 1970s rock song "The Boys Are Back in Town" blared from speakers.
Spec. Jennifer Zarr, 22, who's from Iowa City and attends the University of Iowa, said it was strange in a way to be back home."I keep expecting to see mountains in the distance and there is no dust blowing all over," she said.
At Camp Dodge in Johnston, about 450 people hooted, hollered and cheered as 50 infantry soldiers marched into an armory. A soldier dressed in a blue cavalry uniform and riding a horse led the troopers while bagpipe music played in the background. "The first thing that I noticed when I got off the bus was the smell," said Staff Sgt. Ted Strait of Huxley. "Iowa smells good and looks green."
A crowd estimated at 1,000 cheered as 60 soldiers marched into a high school gym in Carroll. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, told the troops they were part of history, saying what they had done "makes all of us safe and we're a grateful nation."
When the Guard troops were officially dismissed from active duty, relatives mobbed them in a rush of tears, sobs, screams and hugs.
"I can't describe it," said Cade Iversen of Vail, who was mobbed by his four young siblings and his wife, Ann. "It's the best feeling in the world."
posted by Susan VanSlyke at 7:51 AM
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