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Monday, July 14, 2008
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HOME Little Falls-based unit, back from Iraq, welcomed with hugs and tears Staff Writer LITTLE FALLS - Tears of happiness were shed and hugs were given all around Saturday at Camp Ripley during the welcome home ceremony for about 155 soldiers in the Little Falls-based 851st Vertical Engineer Company who returned home from Iraq after a one-year deployment.
The soldiers, who landed on U.S. soil Monday at Fort McCoy, Wis., drove to Camp Ripley in three coach buses and were escorted by fire trucks, law enforcement and the Minnesota Patriot Guard - a motorcycle group that's part of a national organization that stands up for and respects the troops.
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Friends, family and community members excitedly caught their first glimpse of the buses Saturday at Camp Ripley that carried the soldiers of the 851st Vertical Engineer Company that returned home after a one-year deployment in Iraq. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Once family, friends and community members saw the buses drive to the West Lawn of the Training and Community Center, the crowd became wild with cheers. The soldiers exited the buses and the crowd quickly looked for their soldiers. The soldiers were dismissed shortly after arrival by their Cmdr. Brian Winter.
The company was involved in construction and electrical projects in Baghdad, sharing living accommodations with infantry units stationed on the front lines in Iraq. The soldiers would do their work at night so the infantry soldiers could sleep during the day.
The company, with about half the soldiers from Little Falls and surrounding areas, helped build four of the major combat outposts that were staging areas for operations in Sadr City. The outposts were built from the ground up or substantially improved by this company. Because of their efforts, the troops that were involved in the operation of building the Sadr City Wall now have a secure area where they can sleep, get a shower and eat a meal.
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Spc. Joseph Kuduk of Milaca held his 3-week-old son, Cole, Saturday at Camp Ripley during a welcome home ceremony. The Little Falls-based 851st Vertical Engineer Company returned home after a one-year deployment. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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1st Sgt. Brian Soper of Minneapolis said the soldiers basically stepped foot on almost every security post in their 9 1/2 months of time in Iraq. The company also completed 76 missions, which included constructing more than 200,000 square feet of office and living space and installing 72 miles of electrical cable.
The company left for training in Fort McCoy last July and left for Iraq in late September.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Frank of Cold Spring, who is originally from Little Falls, was welcomed home by his wife, Lea, their four children, Bailey, 11; Creighton, 9; Kooper, 3 1/2; and Mya, 14 months, and other family members.
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Three buses carrying about 155 soldiers of the Little Falls-based 851st Vertical Engineer Company were escorted Saturday by fire trucks, law enforcement and the Minnesota Patriot Guard to Camp Ripley, where they were welcomed home by friends and family. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Frank said he was overwhelmed with the support from the community. Beside the crowd at the field, people were standing along the road at Camp Ripley waving flags and clapping for the soldiers. Frank, who's job in Iraq was a construction supervisor, said the Minnesota Patriot Guard escorted the soldiers all the way home to Camp Ripley from the Wisconsin border.
Frank and his family said they were happy to be reunited. Lea Frank joked that she was now going on vacation from parenting. This was Frank's second deployment.
Spc. Ryan Helmin of Foley received a big kiss from his fiancˇe Heather Rymer when they reunited.
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Spc. Ryan Helmin of Foley got a kiss from fiancˇe Heather Rymer Saturday after returning from a one-year deployment in Iraq. Helmin is a part of the 851st Vertical Engineer Company based in Little Falls. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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"I'm so happy he's home," said Rymer with tears in her eyes. "It's so awesome to see him."
Helmin said, "It feels great to be home. This was my first deployment. I'm looking forward to getting home and getting things back to normal."
Helmin's family all wore bright yellow T- shirts that featured a photograph of Helmin.
Spc. Joseph Kuduk of Milaca saw his 3-week-old son, Cole, for the first time at the ceremony. Kuduk said it was good to be back home and hold his son. Kuduk said he plans to pack up and move to Mankato to where his fiancˇe lives. They plan to marry in August.
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Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Frank of Cold Spring happily stood with his kids (right) Bailey, 11; Kooper, 3 1/2; Mya, 14 months; and Creighton, 9; Saturday at Camp Ripley after returning from a one-year deployment in Iraq with the 851st Vertical Engineer Company. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Kuduk's mother, Kathy Phillips of Little Falls, said it was a horrible feeling knowing her son was deployed overseas, but she is proud of him.
"I was so relieved to see him," Phillips said. "I'm so excited that he can see his little boy."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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