-Prisoners of War Reunite With Families

[thedrifter]

-Prisoners of War Reunite With Families

By LISA FALKENBERG
Associated Press Writer

April 20, 2003, 7:10 AM EDT


FORT HOOD, Texas -- To chants of "Hoo-ah!" and tearful hugs from family, seven American soldiers who survived three harrowing weeks of captivity in Iraq made a joyous homecoming -- and began a long journey of adjustment and healing.

At one of the most spiritual times of the year for many Americans -- Easter and Passover -- one of the rescued POWs was still thinking of all the U.S. troops still in Iraq.

"I say a special prayer each night for our fallen comrades, for the soldiers that didn't make it home, and the ones that are still over there. I want everyone to remember them in their prayers," Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D. Young Jr told 1,500 cheering colleagues, friends and family members who had gathered late Saturday night at Fort Hood.

The events welcoming the soldiers home were at times solemn, raucous -- and even humorous.

"This almost makes me as nervous as being shot at," the tall, lanky Young, of Lithia Springs, Ga., quipped as he gazed out at the crowd.

"Hoo-ah!" hollered comrades wearing black berets. Others let out piercing whistles.

Young, 26, was flown to Fort Hood with fellow Apache helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer David S. Williams, of Orlando, Fla., after all seven POWs landed in Fort Bliss, Texas.

For many of the rescued soldiers, homecoming meant basking in life's little joys -- a daughter's tresses or a home-cooked meal.

"The only thing he's talked about was if his little girl's hair had grown," said Williams' uncle Russell Tucker. "That was the first thing he asked."

After the ceremonies were over, Williams and Young were whisked away from the gaze of TV cameras and jubilant well-wishers to spend their first night at home with family.

The five other rescued POWs -- all stationed at Fort Bliss -- were spending Saturday night at the base to undergo evaluation by doctors from nearby William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

For Williams, Saturday marked only the third night he has spent in the home that he, his wife, and his two young children -- 2-year-old Jason and 6-month-old Madison -- moved into days before he was deployed in January.

The house has since been landscaped, fenced, and the front lawn now features a stone monument to the Apache pilot's captivity and rescue.

About 20 of Williams' family members planned to be together Sunday for an Easter lunch, said Tucker, who wore a red, white and blue button with his nephew's picture and kept a digital camera handy to show off pictures of the pilot's two children.

Williams and Young were escorted down a red carpet to a swarm of overjoyed friends and relatives who exchanged hugs and handshakes with them. The crowd cheered and clapped amid the tumult of a brass band's military tunes.

"I'm speechless. It feels good to be home and let's keep praying for all those soldiers who are still fighting. God bless America. I love you," Williams, 30, said to a standing ovation. He hugged his wife Michelle, a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, as he stepped down from the podium.

On Sunday, President Bush planned to helicopter to Fort Hood for Easter services with soldiers and their families. During the visit he also will meet privately with the two pilots, White House officials said.

At Fort Bliss, as the plane taxied along the tarmac, two of the former POWs, Spc. Joseph Hudson and Pfc. Patrick Miller, poked their heads through a hatch on top of the plane, holding an American flag and waving to the crowd.

Hudson bounded off the plane, hugged his wife Natalie and scooped up his 5-year-old daughter, Cameron. The other returning soldiers also greeted loved ones, who gathered under the tail of the plane.

Spc. Shoshana Johnson gripped a flag in each hand and hopped on one leg as she was helped onto a golf cart. She was shot in both ankles during the ambush.

The cart then took the five POWs from the Army's 507th Maintenance Company on a victory lap in front of the overjoyed crowd, which occasionally broke into chants of "USA! USA!" Hudson jumped off the cart at one point and said "This is a great country. God bless America!"

All seven POWs had been recuperating at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany since Wednesday. They were rescued April 13, when Iraqi captors abandoned their posts ahead of advancing American troops.

The Fort Bliss soldiers were captured and nine comrades were killed in a March 23 attack near the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. Another member of the 507th, Pfc. Jessica Lynch, was rescued separately in a daring commando raid April 1 and continues to recuperate in Washington, D.C.

The Fort Bliss soldiers are Hudson, 23, Alamogordo, N.M.; Johnson, 30, El Paso, Texas; Spc. Edgar Hernandez, 21, Mission, Texas; Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, Park City, Kan.; and Sgt. James Riley, 31, Pennsauken, N.J.

Williams and Young are with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division.

Col. Glenn Mitchell, commander at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, said it could take between two to four days beginning Monday before the Fort Bliss soldiers are cleared to go home.

Families of the soldiers expressed joy that the nightmare was over.

"We cannot tell you how excited we are. It was just devastating what we went through and all of a sudden it's like the sun coming up after a stormy night," said Tucker, Williams' uncle.

* __

Associated Press Writer Chris Roberts at Fort Bliss contributed to this report.
Copyright ? 2003, The Associated Press



Sempers,

Roger

[TheOldSarge]

Anybody see the picture in the papers of the two POWs at the "reunion?" The female that was shot in the ankles is waving what appears to be a Panamanian flag. What's up with that? Even if she's Panamanian, she was in the service of the good ol' US of A.

The Old Sarge

[Jerry D]

I thoght it was her home state Flag of Texas when I was watching last night anyone else know ??

[TheOldSarge]

Jerry, that was my first impression also. But if you look at the flag, what you can see of it anyway, its divided into four "squares." The upper right is red, upper left is white, lower right is white and lower left is blue. The upper white square has a blue star. Sure looks like Panama to me ...

The Old Sarge

[Tina]

It was a Panama flag.. They said that on CNN..
Sorry but I really don't see nothing wrong with it..
She had a US flag too..She fought for us and put her life
on the line just like everyone else..Does it really make a diferents
If she flys her flag too?????????
I am sure You all will disagree with me on this.. But the point is
she was one of our POW's and she made it back home...
Welcome home to all our formur POW's...
May God Bless you all..
Your friend and God Bless,
Tina

[TheOldSarge]

Tina, I didn't say there was necessarily anything wrong with it. I just found it odd. My wording in my original post could have been better. :0) When I was active duty (21+years) there were strict rules about displaying flags of other nations on base. I also did not know that she was carrying Old Glory. It does not show in the newspaper photo.

The Old Sarge

[Jerry D]

Well that clears up that question Thanks for the info

[Tina]

I am sorry..
But remember things change.. Back when you all servered
women were not aloud on the front line...
love ya
Your friend and God Bless,
tina

[TheOldSarge]

lol Tina. Now how does that have anything to do with displaying foreign flags on a military installation? lol

The Old Sarge

[David]

Did Panama send troops? If not she should not be waving that flag unless she deployed with Panamanian troops. She no doubt joined the military as many other foreigners do (and did in my unit) to gain US citizenship. This PC crap (praising her for flying her flag) is ridiculous. She was in no way in the service of Panama during her enlistment or imprisonment and owes her allegiance to the USA NOT Panama.