Troops return from duty

The soldiers were escorted in by several police departments.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Marie Hammer's three children look almost like strangers.
"It's scary. They've all grown. I don't even recognize them," the 41-year-old Johnstown, Pa., woman said of her son, Alex, 10, and daughters, Vicki, 13, and Elizabeth, 16.
Hammer was among the 25 soldiers from the 326th Quartermaster Detachment that returned to New Castle on Wednesday evening. The unit, which has 33 U.S. Army reservists, has spent the past 14 months in Iraq purifying water for the troops. Eight soldiers remained in Iraq to pack up their equipment and are expected to return in the next few weeks.
Lynn Banting's daughter, Sgt. Renee Banting of Enon Valley, Pa., is among those still in Iraq. Banting, who is the family readiness coordinator for the group, said Wednesday's homecoming was bittersweet. She misses her daughter but was happy to see the unit arrive home safely.
"I helped plan this, and it's as if I can see her here. I'm excited to see these soldiers. They are such a big part of her life," Lynn Banting said.
'Danger was lurking'
Brian Farester, who was in charge of the group in Iraq, said he's happy everyone made it back alive.
"It was very hot, very dirty, and danger was lurking in every corner," said Farester, an Indiana, Pa., resident whose civilian job is supervisor for the group that oversees public school employees' pensions and health care.
Farester said the detachment even encountered an explosive device on its way out of Iraq, but only trucks were damaged.
"No one was hurt. I thank God for that. We were blessed with safe passage," he said.
The soldiers got a hero's welcome when they arrived at Union High School around 5 p.m. Police from Union, Pulaski, New Castle, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania State Police, Lawrence and Mahoning county sheriff's offices gave the soldiers' bus an escort. There were also veterans on motorcycles as well as firetrucks in the procession.
Fireworks were set off as they walked off the bus.
Wife and mother returns
Marius Jones of Farrell and two of his three children, Anthony, 10, and Sabryna, 8, waited anxiously for the bus to pull up with their wife and mother, Sgt. Lisa Jones. The elder Jones was holding roses, and the children had welcome signs.
Marius Jones said a third child, 3-year-old Julian, has been living with relatives in Alabama while his wife has been deployed.
"We just made do," he said of the time without his wife.
Lisa Jones said she was ready to come home.
"I'm going to hang up being Sgt. Jones for about 30 days and just be mom," she said.
Sgt. Brian Montgomery of Campbell, Ohio, said he's ready to get back to his studies at Youngstown State University, but first he'd like to take a vacation.
His parents, Charles and Gwen, and his sister were there to greet him.
Hard to believe
"I'm very excited. I can't believe this is actually happening," Gwen Montgomery said. His parents said they kept in touch with Sgt. Montgomery through e-mail and by telephone.
Others from the unit said they'll just reconnect with their families.
Marie Hammer's oldest daughter, Elizabeth, 16, said it was hard not having a mother.
"We have a lot of catching up to do," she said.
And Sgt. Hammer said she intends to do just that.
"I'm going to be a mom," Hammer said. "I don't want to play military anymore. On Sept. 20 I will have 24 years of service, and that's when I plan to retire."
cioffi@vindy.com.