From Deseret News archives:

Towns welcome soldiers

Highland, Goshen joyful as pair return from Iraq

Published: Thursday, May 6, 2004 6:54 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
The journey home after time spent fighting a war is enough to bring tears to a military man's eyes, whether the greeting committee is just a spouse and a brand new son or a whole town offering a hero's welcome.

Sgt. Rick Gardner of Highland spent Wednesday afternoon getting acquainted with his new son Ryker and receiving long hugs from his wife, Debbie. The couple found out two weeks after his deployment that Debbie was pregnant with the baby. He was deployed for a year and came home for two weeks when the boy was born.

U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Craig Campbell, who also served in the Iraq war as part of the 1457th Engineer Combat Battalion, returned Wednesday to his Goshen home after a 15-month tour of duty. The tiny southern Utah County town gave him a great big welcome.

"It was great," said Rick Thompson, Campbell's father-in-law. "It started at the airport, just to see him come off the plane and all of the crying and the hugging. This is really a blessing to have him home. "

Members of the Utah battalion, made up of construction and demolition experts, started returning home late last month.

Some 160 more members came home Wednesday. Like the bunch that returned Sunday, half came home in the morning; the rest arrived in Salt Lake City in the afternoon.

Story continues below
These soldiers, made up of construction and demolition experts, were stationed in Baghdad.

In Goshen Wednesday, signs decorated the elementary school and post office, banners with messages of gratitude lined the street leading to Campbell's house and hundreds of townsfolk turned out to cheer for their uniformed neighbor.

Boy Scouts had placed American flags along the way several days before — and they stood at attention as Campbell drove down the lane, saluting the returning soldier.

Campbell's vehicle was accompanied by three police officers on motorcycles.

"When they pulled off the freeway (Craig) was crying," said Penny Thompson, Campbell's sister-in-law. "And when he saw the Boy Scouts it was all tears. It was awesome."

Campbell's wife had no idea the town was planning such a homecoming

Her brother and sister-in-law were the driving forces behind the welcome-home event.

Though two other soldiers serving in the war were born and raised in Goshen, Campbell is the only soldier deployed who has returned after his service ended.

"It was complete happiness that he wasn't forgotten. It was just overwhelming," said Emily Campbell, Craig Campbell's wife.

Emily Campbell kept in touch with her husband via e-mail on her phone — she doesn't have a computer — and talking to him on the phone once every two weeks.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Dan Lund, for the Deseret Morning News

Sgt. Rick Gardner sees his 7-month-old son, Ryker, for only the second time as his wife, Debbie gives him a hug.

previousnext

Latest comments

I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...

Cougs begin bowl preparations

None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...

Max Hall issues apology

Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...

Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...

U. eyes bowl for redemption

How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...

Max Hall issues apology

90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...

This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.

Y. student vanished in China

Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...

Child prostitutes don't get help

Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...

Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...

Advertisements