Our hometown heroes come home
The Minnesota National Guard unit that served an extended tour in Iraq is now back home. As I understand it, the soldiers have returned over the past few weeks with the last group arriving today. You won't find a report anywhere else like that provided to us by reader Jim Snyder, who was on the scene in Owatonna, Minnesota:
Just thought you would like to know, my wife, my daughter and I just returned from Owatonna where we met-up with the rest of the family early this morning anxiously awaiting the arrival of our nephew, SSGT Paul Dellwo, and the men of Co. B, Ist of 133d Infantry at the Owatonna National Guard Armory.Sergeant Thul has been our faithful correspondent among our hometown heroes and we are indeed grateful for Jim's report. In a separate message confirming his arrival in Owatonna this morning, Sergeant Thul reports that his wife and kids are still smiling.It was a fantastic morning. And the weather was as good as I can ever remember for a July morning in Minnesota.
Unlike the faces of the indifferent which met me at Seattle Tacoma Airport as I navigated my way from the line at the ticket counter to the line at the boarding gate 38 years ago this month, the grounds at the Owatonna Armory were filled with the faces of anticipation, which soon changed to tears of joy and hugs of love.
It was an incredibly moving celebration, a heartwarming reunion, a moment that will be remembered for a long time.
The people there could not do enough for our returning freedom fighters. And, while many men and women have served honorably and bravely in this war, calling these guys freedom fighters is not a polite gesture. These guys spend 16 month in the open and on convoy support, such that they return having earned the distinction that only men who serve in a combat role can wear: The Combat Infantry Badge.
There were more American flags on display than perhaps all the flags in the public schools across Minnesota. They do still fly flags in public schools in Minnesota, don’t they?
There was a motorcycle escort of what seemed like a hundred cyclists, some of which lead the convoy all the way from Ft. McCoy. Others joined-up as they entered Owatonna. Still others stood as flag bearers and formed a receiving line as the troops entered the Armory grounds.
There was a celebration that took place in this field outside this small town that would have made any American proud. Well, I shouldn’t try to speak for the retreat and surrender crowd, or the politicians eager to patronize them. Although, it did occur to me that the folks visiting the Owatonna Armory this morning spent more time there just waiting for our returning troops than Pelosi spent on her entire visit in Baghdad.
My nephew said it was an incredible ride, and when they drove through the town of Owatonna, they passed under the crossed ladders of two fire trucks which had been there to greet them. He was in awe of the community’s efforts.
There will be cookouts and dinners tonight and many family gatherings in church this weekend.
But, I doubt those who practice what passes for journalism today will capture for their readers the spirit of today’s event, if they even bother to record it.
Finally, as the celebration was breaking up, I noticed a young buck sergeant at the center of a gathering of smiling family and friends. Sewn on his fatigue jacket just under the brand new Combat Infantryman Badge that he had pinned above was the sergeant’s last name: THUL.
Thought you would want to know.
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