Oklahoma soldiers return from duty
By Bryan Dean
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Published: October 13, 2008
About 200 members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade returned to Oklahoma on Sunday, the first of about 2,600 coming home from a tour in Iraq. The first group landed Sunday morning, the second group landed after 6 p.m.
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When Maj. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, the state’s adjutant general, tells families he understands what they are going through with loved ones deployed to Iraq, he means it. Wyatt’s son, Capt. Colby Wyatt, was among those soldiers who returned Sunday. It was his second deployment to Iraq. Colby Wyatt, of Cherokee said it was harder to leave the second time but even better coming home. His father, who spoke at Sunday’s ceremony, welcomed his son and hugged his grandchildren after the soldiers were released to their families. He said having Colby deployed is difficult for him as a father, but it probably helps him be a better commander because he understands what families go through when loved ones deploy to a war zone. “I can empathize with them,” Wyatt said. “I have some of the same anxieties and concerns at times that they do.” Priorities in order
About 20 friends and family members showed up Sunday to welcome home Staff Sgt. Brant Morse. Morse, of Stillwater, who stayed in the Sawyer Center long after many of his fellow soldiers had left, taking pictures and getting hugs from all of those who made the trip. Morse said the first thing he planned to do when he got home was change out of his uniform. After that? “Steak,” Morse said. “We’re going out.” Web cam wonders
Spc. Lawrence Jenkins came home Sunday to his wife and four kids. Jenkins, of Stillwater, said he can’t wait to get home, smell the grass and the trees and spend time with his family. Luckily, Jenkins and the other soldiers of the 45th Infantry Brigade didn’t have to wait on snail mail to get word from home like those in previous wars. “I just thank God for new inventions like the Web cam,” he said. 89 days behind him
Sunday was Day Zero for Sgt. Alexander Moore. Moore said he started counting down the days until he could come home to his wife, Dawn, and his three daughters, Hope, Hannah and Madison, 89 days ago. Dawn Moore said she started counting long before that. She and her daughters sat near her husband during Sunday’s welcome home ceremony and mobbed him the second the soldiers were released to their families. “Thank God it’s over,” Dawn Moore said.
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