Homecoming is bittersweet

The highest officer in the Utah National Guard found the right word for Wednesday's events.

"Frankly, it's a bittersweet day," said Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant of the Guard, as he and approximately 600 others waited at the Utah Air Guard base for the homecoming of the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion.

"We welcome a great unit home," he said. "At the same time, we found out that one of our units has been extended" to serve longer in Iraq. That is the 1457th Combat Engineers, with 521 members who deployed in February 2003.

Tarbet said he has heard that an Army Reserve unit from Utah, the 419th Transportation Company, also would have its tour in Iraq extended. But that has not yet been confirmed.

"We don't know the amount of time" for the 1457th extension, Tarbet said. "We don't know the mission." It is among 15 Guard units from seven states to be extended, he said.

According to The Associated Press, about 22,000 American soldiers in Iraq, including National Guard and Reserve troops, had tours extended at least three months to help combat the surge in violence in that country. The decision "breaks the Army's promise to soldiers and their families that assignments in Iraq would be limited to 12 months," The Associated Press added.

Shortly after landing, three big KC135 Stratotankers taxied up to the crowd waiting at the side of the runway near the Air Guard terminal, 765 N. 2200 West. Family members, friends and fellow Guard members erupted in whistles, cheers and yells. They held up signs and waved flags.

The 142nd had been away from home since February 2003. First the 120 members of the linguistic group trained at Fort Carson, Colo., then were assigned to Iraq.

Family members swarmed onto the runway as soldiers walked from the aircraft. Sgt. Mike Lyon, Kaysville, hugged his fiancee, Tiffany Williams, and presented her with roses he had purchased in Colorado.

"Oh, my goodness," said Lyon, struggling to describe the Iraq duty. "I don't think you can. It's been good. It was an experience, I guess you could say, and it was hard."

Throughout the deployment, Lyon said, he kept a pillow with a picture on it showing Williams blowing a kiss. It accompanied him home to Utah.

"We're very excited," Williams said before the plane landed. "We're just thrilled they're coming home safe and well. We're just thrilled."