Part VII: Homecoming brings joy, new struggles (part 7 of 7)

[unhappycamper]

Back at long last
Guardsmen return after 22-month Iraq deployment


Part VII: Homecoming brings joy, new struggles
By Sharon Cohen - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Aug 10, 2008 17:09:42 EDT

The chartered plane loaded with soldiers descended slowly in the summer sky as Sgt. John Kriesel watched eagerly on the tarmac, clutching a walking cane. He had been waiting for this reunion for more than seven months.

Kriesel hadn’t seen his “guys” since he lost his legs in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Now, finally, on this bright July day at Volk Field in Wisconsin, the soldiers who served with him — several of whom he had known since high school — were home after a 22-month tour of duty, including 16 months in Iraq.

And he was there to welcome them.

Wearing shorts, sunglasses and bright yellow running shoes and standing firmly with his prosthetic legs, Kriesel beamed as a long line of soldiers formed, snaking from the plane’s steps across the tarmac.

One by one, Kriesel greeted them with hugs, hand shakes, smiles and jokes.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_longdeployment_081008/



uhc comment: Part 1 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16600
Part 2 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16628
Part 3 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16648
Part 4 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16678
Part 5 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16708
Part 6 --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x16743