A hero's welcome greets returning soldiers

Fire engines, streets lined with supporters and a basketball arena full of screaming family members welcomed home about 150 members of the Oklahoma National Guard's 1345th Transportation Company on Friday night in Del City.

The soldiers returned after a one-year deployment in Iraq. Two members of the group were sent home early after being wounded in action. No one in the unit died, something commanders stressed repeatedly during a ceremony at Del City High School's gymnasium before releasing the troops back to their families.

Spc. Ricky Callender of Enid said he and his fellow soldiers knew they would be in harm's way.

"Things you took for granted, you won't take for granted anymore,” Callender said. "I had a wife and family to come home to.”

Before the ceremony, the soldiers made their way to the school in buses. Thousands lined Del City streets waving signs and American flags at the troops as the buses passed.

Carrie Stout, 24, of Union City said she came to welcome home her cousin, Justin Oney of Canton. Stout said she already has plans for her cousin now that he's back.

"We're going to go dancing,” Stout said. "We love to country dance.”

Many who had no connection to the troops still came out to cheer the buses as they passed. A military spokesman estimated more than 20,000 people watched the buses, which were escorted by police cars and fire engines from across the metro area.

Darla Gambill of Midwest City said it was important to her to show the troops that she supports them.

"I'm very glad and not the least bit surprised by how many people came out here,” Gambill said.

Among the group was Matthew Herndon of Kingston who was wounded by a roadside bomb and returned home early to recover. His father, Mike Herndon, said his son changed his plans for a trip to Burma to be with his fellow soldiers when they got back.

"He decided he wanted to be here with them,” Mike Herndon said of his son. "We were very concerned and worried for them up to the last minute.”

The soldiers entered the gym to applause and the sound of an Army band.

Maj. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the state's adjutant general, attributed the soldiers' training and their commanders for bringing them home safely.

"One hundred forty-two of you were sent off to war, and we have everybody back home,” Wyatt said during the ceremony, drawing a roar of approval from the 1,000 or so friends and family gathered in the gym. "We took some dings, we took some hits, but you're all home.”

"I'm very glad and not the least bit surprised by how many people came out here.”

Darla Gambill, of Midwest City