Jul 17, 2007 8:04 pm US/Central
Long-Deployed Minn. Soldiers Reunited With Family
Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP) ―
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Several Minnesota towns welcomed returning soldiers Tuesday, including Inver Grove Heights, Brooklyn Center, Bloomington, Fairmont, Little Falls, and Moorhead. (File)
Photo from Kari Johnson
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The soldiers were among 2,600 troops from the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division who are returning this month. They had spent the previous week demobilizing at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. (File)
Minnesota National Guard
Spc. Nick Giovannetti held his nephew with one arm and slung the other one around family members who moved in for hugs.
The National Guard soldier had just stepped off a charter bus Tuesday at a homecoming for soldiers from A Company, 134th Brigade Support Battalion, which spent 22 months in Iraq. A few hundred people greeted the soldiers, who let out a collective cheer after their commander declared them "dismissed!"
"It's a little overwhelming," Giovannetti, of Austin, said as he squeezed his nephew, 3-year-old Lucas Haugland. His parents, Bob Helgeson and Gina Giovannetti, both of Austin, and his sister, Anna, were among those there to greet him.
Several Minnesota towns welcomed returning soldiers Tuesday, including Inver Grove Heights, Fairmont and Little Falls. The soldiers were among 2,600 troops from the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division who are returning this month. They had spent the previous week demobilizing at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Dozens of soldiers also returned Monday.
In Brooklyn Center, on the grounds of an armory, the soldiers arrived on three charter buses led by a fire truck. Friends and family members greeted them with American flags and homemade banners. One sign, attached to a stroller carrying a little girl, read: "Look how big I am, Daddy!" Loudspeakers pumped a bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace" over the crowd.
Specialist Hieu Giang, who spent 15 months serving in Iraq, said he mostly wants to get to know his family again -- especially his 2-year-old sister who he barely knows.
"The second time I saw her was on my two week leave," said Giang. "I'm just anxious to come home and get out of uniform -- just relax and stuff like that."
Giang worked in supply and rode in convoy trucks -- a sometimes dangerous job.
"It feels great! The long wait is finally over, a lot of weight is just lifted off my shoulders," said the St. Cloud resident. "I was really glad I saw my family. It was really nice to see them again, after so long."
His family was just as glad to see the spent soldier.
"We missed him a lot and we're happy to see him back," said Keith Nguyen, Giang's uncle. "He looks all grown up and mature, and a real man right now."
Giang said the first thing he's going to do is eat.
"I really miss the food the most, you just can't get that kind of food over in Iraq," he said.
Tom and Kathy Marver of West St. Paul waited for the arrival of their daughter, Spc. Joy Amity Marver. Their son, Spc. Dustin Marver, remains on duty in Iraq.
Tom Marver said his daughter was ready to resume a normal life. "She's been looking forward to coming home and playing hockey," he said with a chuckle.
Giovannetti said he wasn't sure what he would do next. While he was thinking about returning to school, he hoped to spend some time catching up with friends and relatives.
Mostly, he said, he was just glad to be home.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Slideshow: A Hero's Welcome: Minnesota Troops Return Home
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