Troops welcomed back home

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - Applause, prayers, thank-yous and a few "Hooh-ahs" from the troops echoed through the rafters at the New Ulm Civic Center Saturday afternoon, as soldiers of the 125th Field Artillery received a homecoming ceremony, recognizing the troops for their service overseas.

It was almost one year ago that 500 Minnesota National Guard troops were sent off with a ceremony that featured Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, commander of the Minnesota National Guard.

Like the 125th headquarters battery, many of the men and women in that deployment had local roots. They returned to those roots in March after their tour of duty ended.

State and local officials joined the battery's commanders in welcoming the troops home and recognizing their service to U.S. military installations in Germany and Italy during the heaviest fighting in Iraq. The soldiers of the 125th were a part of Task Force Steel Guard.

"We didn't know what we were getting into. We knew we were going to Wisconsin but we didn't know where we were going after that," said Sgt. James Rosenthal of Jordan. "In the military, rumors spread like wildfire. It was a huge relief to hear we were going to Italy."

Many of the 125th's soldiers guarded an infantry base in Vincenza, a town a 1/2 mile north of Venice. The unit that the 125th replaced was the first to parachute into Iraq. Soldiers acted mainly as gate guards for a military housing complex by searching vehicles for explosives.

Cpl. Clint Comnick of Good Thunder said he's looking forward to returning to being a student at Minnesota State University Mankato, and Rosenthal is taking a job with the National Guard in Inver Grove Heights.

The homecoming began with the New Ulm Municipal Band's rendition of "The Army Song." The battery's rank and file entered the arena and stood

as Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, State Sen. Dennis Frederickson, State Rep. Brad Finstad, New Ulm Mayor Joel Albrecht and Brig. Gen. Charles Trost of the 34th Infantry Division took the stage.

Lt. Col. Bruce Jensen, the battery's commander, introduced himself and then gave a snap-to salute as an Army color guard entered and set its flags down on the stage.

Outside the arena, the New Ulm Battery fired off three shots with its Civil War-era cannon. The division's chaplain led the troops in prayer.

There were several Minnesota National Guard units that were part of Task Force Steel Guard. Some came from the Twin Cities. Others were from southwest Minnesota towns like Pipestone, Luverne, Fairmont, St. James and St. Peter.

The troops had received a number of letters from Minnesota's representatives in Congress and Jensen read accolades from U.S Rep. Gil Gutknecht and U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton, conveying gratitude towards the troops and their families for their service to their country.

Tost began his remarks with a "hoo-ah" for the troops and told the group they got picked to go overseas because the Army thought the 125th was the best to do the job.

"You are a real tribute to this organization," Tost said. "You have participated gallantly in the war on terrorism."

He also acknowledged the families and the businesses that endured difficult times while their loved ones and employees were away, saying they also made significant contribution to national defense and the war on terrorism.

"In 10, 20 years, this will just be a short blip on your radar screen of life," Tost told the troops.

When Albrecht took the stage, he said it was "a privilege and an honor" to speak to the troops. He remembered the activation ceremony last August, which happened on a day similar to Saturday.

Albrecht, himself a World War II veteran of the Navy, said, "Now we can collectively breathe easier. We held our breath on a day-to-day basis and waited for word, but it never came. In many other communities, at this very moment, people are saddened to receive one home alone and the sun never shines as brightly."

He called on everyone at the ceremony for a moment of silence to honor the U.S. troops who died during service.

Finstad thanked the troops "for being true Americans and true heroes."

Frederickson noted that six months "might not seem like a long time for us, but it's a long time for the families of National Guard members."

Kiffmeyer told the crowd that the 125th are neither the first nor the last troops to be called into active duty, adding that many veterans were on hand at the ceremony.

Kiffmeyer recalled saying goodbye to her husband before he left for a year in Vietnam. She said "it was better to welcome him home but that was also hard because many things happened to me and to him." She said reconnecting and getting to know each other again will take some time.