Soldiers welcomed home Hugs, kisses,

tears mark

homecoming

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A recording of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," cut the air as hundreds of friends and relatives waited for 72 soldiers from the local Minnesota Army National Guard unit arrive at the armory Wednesday afternoon.

The throng carried signs welcoming their favorite soldier, American flags and red, white and blue balloons. The crowd walked down the ramp as New Ulm Police escorted three large coach buses to the armory.

Soldiers in their camouflage uniforms kissed and hugged their loved ones.

They quickly unloaded their large, green gear bags in a huge pile next to the buses. The hugs and kisses kept on coming.

Six months ago, more than 500 Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers of the First Battalion, 125th Field Artillery were mobilized to conduct security operations at North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bases in England, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Turkey.

Last August, Gov. Tim Pawlenty told hundreds of people at a send off in German Park that the soldiers responded to something larger than themselves, stepping into the breech, as heroes and patriots.

The returning soldiers appreciated coming home and seeing so many loved ones.

Allen Fischer and Matt Fischer, father and son from Sleepy Eye, had been called up for the same tour of duty. Although Al went to Germany and Matt went to Italy, they came home together.

"This is unexpected. It sure feels good to be home," said Allen Fischer, whose rank is Command Sergeant Major

"I'm so glad he's home," Fischer's wife Carol said. Several months ago, she visited him in Germany and stayed in Italy with exchange students she and her husband hosted in Sleepy Eye years ago.

Allen Fischer enjoyed his time in Germany.

"It was very clean and the people were friendly," Fischer said. "Plus the food was good, and it had no winter to speak of."

He was stationed at Ramstein Air Base, the largest air base outside the continental United States. The deployment was Fischer's third and longest one of his career. He went to Norway twice for Team Spirit exercises.

Soldier Brian Leske of New Ulm arrived home at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night, just in time to see his wife Sherri deliver a healthy baby boy at 8:05 a.m. Wednesday at New Ulm Medical Center Hospital.

"I got home just in time," Leske said with a smile. His wife visited him for a week last Christmas. They toured Pisa, Florence and Venice in Northern Italy. Leske said he enjoyed the wine the most in Italy.

Ron and Janette Krzmarzick of New Ulm waited on the ramp for their son Scott to return. He'll work at a Christian youth camp near Chicago before returning to Bethel College next fall where he is majoring in business.

His mother talked about his reasons for joining the National Guard.

"He went in because he wanted to do something to help keep America safe because he thought that was better than doing nothing about it," Janette said.

The Krzmarzicks visited Scott in Italy for nine days last month. They spent three days in Rome, two days in Venice and toured the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

"It was the traveling opportunity of a lifetime," Janette said. "I'd go back anytime."

For soldier Drew Cook, of Sleepy Eye, his time in Italy was particularly eventful. He got engaged to Misty Cogdill of Lafayette during her visit there. Her grandparents were part of the welcome home crowd.

Tammy Windschitl of New Ulm sent many "care" packages to her son Justin while he was in Italy. He plans to continue to study political science at the University of Minnesota.

She visited him in Italy and enjoyed it.

"It was a beautiful country, quite an experience," Tammy said.

The top-ranked unit of its type in the country, the New Ulm unit is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Composite Force including Norwegian and German forces. The 125th in New Ulm has batteries deploying from St. James, St. Peter, Jackson, Pipestone and Luverne.

Its equipment includes self-propelled howitzers, command trucks and a tactical computer system.

Deactivated troops will be honored with a homecoming ceremony set for 2 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at the New Ulm Civic Center.

Since the war began last March , five Minnesota troops and 558 U.S. troops have died in the war. More than 3,000 U.S. troops have been wounded.