Welcome home, soldier

<p>They came home to cheering onlookers waving American flags, and accompanied by a police and large motorcycle escort, sirens and the sheriff’s helicopter circling overhead.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>After a year in Afghanistan doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the war — clearing the roads of planted enemy explosives — 36 members of the California National Guard arrived back at their Petaluma base on Sunday.</p><p>About 100 spectators lined Vallejo Street as the two buses with returning soldiers drove up, along with police and fire vehicles and about 75 loud riders with the Patriot Guard motorcycle escort.</p><p>“This was unbelievable, quite amazing,” said Chuck Reckmeyer, 48, of Santa Rosa, one of the members of the 235th Engineer Company who were buoyed by the turnout.</p><p>“They were saluting from freeway overpasses,” he said of some of the onlookers in Novato who greeted the two buses of returning soldiers.</p><p>In contrast, his return from the airport after his first deployment in 2006 was much more subdued.</p><p>“I caught a bus back — Airport Express — and that was it,” he said.</p><p>But to some, the turnout should have been even greater.</p><p>“There should be 1,000 people here for what these guys are doing,” said Joe Meisch, a Cazadero man who served in the National Guard 10 years ago. “These are top notch guys.”</p><p>To Kyle Jordan, 22, of Rohnert Park, one of the returning members of the Guard, Sunday’s reception felt “pretty good. It was awesome, totally unexpected.”</p><p>His parents, wife, grandparents, aunts, “just about everybody,” were there along with well-wishing strangers.</p><p>“It means a lot to us when we get a lot of support,” he said.</p><p>After hugs, kisses and a few happy tears from their wives, girlfriends, children and other loved ones, the soldiers munched on pizza, cake, fruit and cookies.</p><p>They were reminded by their commander of the important job they accomplished.</p><p>“You went and served admirably and courageously. You lived the warrior ethos and family values,” said Col. Matt Beevers, brigade commander. “You never let us down.”</p><p>The men returning Sunday were the first of several groups of about 150 battle-tested members of the Petaluma-based company scheduled to be home by Thanksgiving.</p><p>The company earned 60 Purple Heart awards for wounds and 130 Combat Action Badges for receiving or exchanging enemy fire.</p><p>Some counselors on Sunday gave the veterans a briefing with tips on how to integrate back into their families, avoid stress and deal with any signs of post traumatic stress syndrome.</p><p>“Reflect on the value of what you impart to your country,” National Guard Chaplain Trudy Read told the soldiers. “You all know everybody’s really proud of you. When they walk up to you and say that, you know they really mean it. You’ve done a great job.”</p><p>Some who came to the Petaluma National Guard Armory were Vietnam veterans who were not welcomed home from the unpopular war. They said it was important to acknowledge veterans now.</p><p>“I know they pay them something. They don’t pay them enough,” said Walt Tullis of Novato, a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran and former Air Force intelligence officer who had a large sign reading “Proud of the 235th. Thank you for your service!”</p><p>“It’s a really dangerous job. You get blown up in a hurry,” he said of the work done by the 235th.</p><p>Nowadays, the soldiers were able to keep in touch with their loved ones via e-mail, webcams and Facebook and their families say it makes a big difference.</p><p>“You get to see your child almost in the flesh. You see all the fingers and everything is there,” said Mark Hughes of Roseville, whose son Ryan, 20, returned through Petaluma on Sunday.</p><p>He said his son joined the Army National Guard right out of high school saying he needed “go over there and make a difference.”</p><p>“That’s pretty honorable. I don’t know if I’d have done it if there had been a war going on when I was his age,” said Hughes, 45.</p><p>“The emotions are up and down. He’s my only son,” he said. “It’s just a relief he’s not in harm’s way anymore.”</p><p>Pam Phelps of Sacramento said her husband Robert, 53, was probably the oldest National Guardsman returning home Sunday.</p><p>“He wants some good food, good home cooking,” she said of his immediate plans.</p><p>Despite the ability to keep in contact via phone and computer, there were times when he was out of touch, she said.</p><p>“If you don’t hear anything, you think the worst. I’m very glad he’s home,” Phelps said.</p>