Triple joy for 'Triple Deuce'

CEDAR CITY — A charted airplane carrying 150 soldiers from Utah's famed "Triple Deuce" touched down at the Cedar City Airport Saturday afternoon, thrilling hundreds of family members, friends and even the soldiers themselves.

"We went crazy cheering when we landed," said Sgt. Matt Higgs, who was waiting for his father to arrive from Parowan for a ride home. "It's all good now."

The aircraft carried soldiers from the St. George-based Charlie Battery and Beaver-based Service Battery of the Utah National Guard's 222nd Field Artillery Unit who returned home from Iraq. About 30 soldiers who live in northern Utah also got off the plane for a quick rest stop before reboarding for their final destination at the Guard's Salt Lake Air Base.

"It's been too long," Becky Raftery said simply before planting a kiss on her husband, Sgt. Greg Raftery, who held a single yellow rosebud in one hand.

Two huge cranes held up giant American flags at the entry road to the airport and near the tarmac. Patriotic music blared from a nearby portable sound system as the crowd anxiously waited for the soldiers to descend from the aircraft's open doorway and step onto Utah soil.

Jamie Mackelprang wiped tears from her eyes after hugging her sons, Morgan and Lance, who served together in Iraq with the 222nd and arrived home on the same plane.

"It wasn't bad," said Spc. Morgan Mackelprang. "It seemed like it went by way too fast. That's probably because the people there were so good to work with."

Corp. Justin Chappell's family rushed onto the tarmac waving homemade posters and balloons to welcome the 24-year-old soldier home.

"This is so exciting," said Camille Chappell, 11, as she beamed a wide smile at her big brother.

Chappell's father, Roger, blinked back tears as he stood next to his son.

"I'm just awful proud of him and grateful for his service," he said. "It's a great day for our family and for the community."

The Triple Deuce was activated in January 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, leaving Utah for Camp Shelby, Miss., for combat training. A short stint at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., helped acclimate soldiers to a harsh desert environment and Iraq-specific training.