45 Illinois National Guard Soldiers welcomed home in Woodstock
In a ceremony marked by tearful smiles and fervent thanksgiving, 45 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard's Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry, were welcomed home Thursday in Woodstock.
The Woodstock Square transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as hundreds gathered several hours before the soldiers' arrival, waving American flags and displaying homemade "Welcome back" signs.
"Today we celebrate answered prayers," Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager said to a cheering crowd as members of the Delta Company stood at attention behind him. "To the family, friends and loved ones, thank you for sharing [these soldiers] with our country."
The Delta Company deployed in November 2008 and went to Afghanistan, where its soldiers provided security for governmental departments and other armed forces groups as they worked to strengthen the country's infrastructure. The company helped build new schools, medical clinics, wells and bridges. They also worked with the locals, trying to convince those wary of U.S. forces that the troops are there to help them.
After hearing "mission accomplished," Delta Company entered a crowd of outstretched arms, as grateful laughter and enthusiastic hellos became the soundtrack of the afternoon.
"I get to hang out with my whole family and be worry free tonight, no rockets or anything to think about. It feels good," Spc. Corey Pierce, 23, of Rockford said.
Pierce received a Purple heart after getting wounded while on duty.
Entire families came to the ceremony, including that of Spc. Norman Cain III. Their tears, however, were for a soldier who would not be coming home.
Cain, 22, of Mount Morris, was one of three Delta Company soldiers to die March 15 after their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb. Despite the pain of their loss, Cain's family wanted to come out for the homecoming celebration.
Besides Cain, Sgt. Christopher Abeyta of Midlothian and Sgt. Robert Weinger of Round Lake Beach were killed by the bomb. Delta Company Sgt. Lukasz Saczek, of Lake in the Hills, died May 10 from noncombat injuries.
"It's bittersweet being here close to other families of the [Delta Company] soldiers right now. But they understand how you're feeling," Cain's aunt, Deb Klages said.
Klages, who says Cain was "like a son to her," wore a shirt with his face on it and had special dog tags engraved with his picture hanging around her neck. The last time she saw Cain was when he came home before his deployment
"He told me that he enjoyed serving but he also said, 'I just want you to know that it's dangerous out there,' Klages said. "I told him to just be safe and come home."
Photographs of the fallen soldiers were on display during the entire ceremony, providing a stark reminder of war's ultimate cost as soldiers reunited with family and friends they had not seen in months.
For Sgt. Guy Porth of McHenry, Thursday's homecoming provided him the opportunity to become reacquainted with someone he only really knew from e-mailed photos: his one-year-old daughter Violet.
Porth, 30, was home for Violet's birth and spent time with her shortly before he deployed, but had not seen her since she was three months old.
"It feels very nice to see my daughter in person instead of over the Internet," Porth said.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=382">Watch the welcome</a></li> </ul> <h2>Photo gallery</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=310459">Delta Company homecoming photos <span class="date">[7/30/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>