Coming home
Area soldiers are back in Pa. after 8 months near BaghdadBy Phil Ray, pray@altoonamirror.com
Article Photos
Spc. Brian Wike of Altoona, a member of the 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, couldn't take his eyes off his girl when he got off the bus at the Frankstown Armory on a perfect sunny August day.
As he held Leah, only 11 months old, in his arms, he explained she was born to him and his wife just three days before he began training for a deployment near Baghdad.
As two Fullington Trailways buses loaded with soldiers came off Interstate 99 onto Fairway Drive, a huge roar ensued.
About 100 members of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry, were home at last.
The greeting the Altoona soldiers received from about 400 to 500 family and friends brought smiles and tears to their faces.
Soldiers from Altoona and Huntingdon arrived at Fort Dix, N.J., for demobilization before arriving under police and fire escorts.
Staff Sgt. Jason Kidd of Lakemont and his wife, Carrie, tearfully held each other for a long, long time and then he turned to his newborn, Andrew, 4 months old, and looked at him as if he was viewing a miracle.
As he was holding Andrew, he hugged and spoke to his son, Nathan, 12.
"I want to go home, sit down and relax with my family," Kidd said.
Sgt. John Cobaugh of Johnstown was coming home after his third deployment.
He was greeted by his dad, John Sr., a veteran himself.
He laughed when asked what he wanted to do when he got home.
"Drink a cold one," he said.
It was good, he said, to breath fresh air instead of sand.
Cobaugh had been on active duty for six years and been a member of the National Guard for 15 years.
Was he done after three deployments?
"Probably not," he said.
He has a few years to go before retirement, and, he said, he intends to stay in the Guard.
The returning soldiers also were greeted by one of their own, Spc. Carla Bigelow of Tyrone, a member of a National Guard unit in Clearfield.
She remembered the one member of Bravo Company who came home in June, Spc. Chad A. Edmundson, 20, of Williamsburg. He was killed May 27 by a roadside bomb near Abu Ghraib. She knew Edmundson well.
He was a good kid and an outstanding soldier, Bigelow said.
"He will definitely be missed and he will never be forgotten," she said.
She knows Roy and Sherry Edmundson, Chad's parents, who were present as the local unit arrived.
The soldiers of Edmundson's unit also remembered.
Capt. Jason Hoffman of York, Bravo Company's commander, said Edmundson was a "great soldier."
"His community is rightly proud of him," Hoffman said.
The feeling of coming home, said Hoffman, is "undescribable."
Hoffman said the men of Bravo Company "did great work."
He was preparing to return home to his fiancee, he said, and to "big hugs."
In Huntingdon, county residents lined the streets downtown Monday night for a "Welcome Home" parade.
Led by every volunteer fire company in the county, the soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry, were greeted with cheers, tears, salutes and then, once at the Huntingdon Armory, hugs and kisses from family members.
"This is unbelievable," Capt. Chris Wilson, company commander, said. "We all appreciate what went on here tonight."
Huntingdon Mayor Foster Ulrich said it was a great turnout by the citizens.
"We really appreciate all the things these men have done," Ulrich said.
A welcome home party for the troops will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 in downtown Huntingdon, Ulrich said.
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
Jeff Gill contributed to this story.
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coffeebreak
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09-02-09 11:07 AM
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Words cannot express the gratitude my family feels for these brave men and women who put their lives on hold and went to IRAQ to protect our freedom. Thanks and welcome home!!
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Kelly03fan
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09-02-09 8:17 AM
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Welcome home and thank you!
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mommab
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09-01-09 9:49 PM
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Then go live with the Iraqis DAG, shame one you,! Its not the Men and women that serve, its our politions that put them there in the firt place! And guess waht we voted for them! They didnt get there by themselves you know. So heck yeah GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!! And GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS!!!!!!!!
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dagwood
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09-01-09 7:35 PM
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I am not sorry I rained on the parade. it's really hard to imagine what those human beings in Iraq, who lost there Fathers, daughters, sons, infants, and entire families are dealing with right now. They have sorrow, pain, and tears, just as we do. No less then we do. 90% of Iraqis, are UN-armed. Yet died to missile , tank fire, and not having any cover. Just as those did on 9-11. If they did not hate America then, I assure you, they do now. And like Viet Nam, Iraq will fall right back into the hands of despots. Making those who "served" all in vain. But, that was the plan anyway.
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dagwood
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09-01-09 7:25 PM
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If you people really believe "GOD" will Bless a Nation that just slaughtered over a 1/2 million people, then your "GOD" is not my "GOD". My GOD punishes evil doers. God bless America. WRONG!!!
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dagwood
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09-01-09 7:22 PM
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What is the difference between Viet Nam, and the Iraq wars? Nothing. Both were lies, where young men gave life, limbs, and other horrible injuries to enrich the wealthy. "Service", to whom? Iraq did absolutely nothing to America. Nothing. The weapons of mass nothing lie, failed. America invaded a sovereign Nation, looted it's recourses, and made billionaires of Halliburton, Blackwater, and the Bush family. And you people dare toot your horns? How dare you. Oh, but God forbid when America was attacked. And you turned around and did exactly what was done to you. Killed over a 1/2 million innocent people, women and children. You people disgust me. I am ashamed to be an American any more.
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gramsboyz
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09-01-09 7:18 PM
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Welcome home soldiers! May you all have peace in your lives. Thank you all so very much.
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KMadak
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09-01-09 3:50 PM
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God bless them. I took off work yesterday to go to two homecomings, my best friend and my future brother-in-law.
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DRILLMAMMA
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09-01-09 3:01 PM
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I'm not complaining about their homecoming. I'm glad their coming home. They all should be coming home, like Obama promised, the liar.
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BlairProud
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09-01-09 11:32 AM
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Thank you all for your brave and valiant service. You all are better and braver than I. If I could, I'd buy each and every one of you a "cold one."
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Tuna83
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09-01-09 11:32 AM
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Thanks goes out to all the great soldiers !!! You are all true true heros !! Welcome home !!
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Mcguff
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09-01-09 9:46 AM
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I also feel bad about the homecoming that the Vietnam soldiers got. The sad thing is that the people that ran those guys down are running our country now. Judging from your angry tone DRILLMAMMA you probably vote for them.
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Mcguff
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09-01-09 9:38 AM
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Thank God, I can quit holding my breath. Thank you and welcome home soldiers. I am thankful that we have young men that are willing to put their lives on hold and go half way around the world to stand up for freedom. God bless all the soldiers, and God bless the United States of America.
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Jhana2012
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09-01-09 9:34 AM
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DRILLMAMMA- You are complaining about welcoming our soldiers home, WTF is wrong with you. Vietnam was 40 years ago, get the freak over it Crazy! WELCOME HOME GUYS!!!!!
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ystar1
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09-01-09 8:48 AM
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WELCOME HOME!!!!
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DRILLMAMMA
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09-01-09 8:17 AM
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Certainly more than what Vietnam soldiers got. All they ever got was a wall with the names of dead soldiers.
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