All smiles and kisses as 118th welcomed home
By MICHAEL GANNON, Journal Register News Service
02/11/2005
NEWINGTON -- They left more than 14 months ago with the mission of caring for the sick and wounded in Iraq, both military and civilian. With that accomplished, 98 members of the 118th Medical Battalion of the Connecticut National Guard came home on Thursday.
The buses from Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y., were about an hour late, but the agonizing wait proved well worth it once a state police escort ushered the buses into the Newington High School parking lot to a sea of balloons, yellow roses and American flags.
Sgt. Tanya Williams of New Haven was greeted by more than a dozen of her family members and friends. They were easily distinguishable by the floppy, khaki Boonie hats she sent from the front.
"I’m just glad to be home," Williams said, hugging daughters Shaidna, 10, and Sajdah, 5.
Her husband, Simon Williams, said the time apart was hard, even with the support of the family. The worry, he said, was tempered by the ability to keep in touch.
"It wasn’t watching the news every day," he said. "But we could communicate regularly with e-mail."
Her mother, Zakiyyah Hasan of Hamden, said Tanya Williams made sure to alert the family in the wake of a large attack that resulted in American casualties. She and her husband, Abdul Hasan, said the unit’s service and the recent Iraqi elections filled them with pride.
"There are men who have said, ‘Hell no, I won’t go,’" said Abdul Hasan. "Well, my daughter went."
Ted Budney said he does not know anyone serving in the 118th Medical Battalion. He has no family connections to the unit, nor friends under its colors.
"This is the least we can do for them," said Budney, a former World War II artilleryman who stood in the cold blowing wind Thursday to welcome home a new generation of his peers.
"My family is complete again," said Susan Irizarry, tears falling from her face. "I have all my children."
Susan Irizarry’s daughter, Pfc. Josefa Irizarry, was among the soldiers welcomed home on the high school steps. The New Britain resident was greeted by her mother and her father, Eddie Irizarry.
"I was nervous. I was very nervous, but I was excited," Josefa Irizarry said. "I haven’t seen my family since August, so I was really nervous to see them again."
Sgt. Kurt Heitz of Shelton served as an X-ray technician, as he does in civilian life. "They left in November 2003, and he went to Kuwait on Feb. 6, 2003," said his girlfriend, Elena Tamayo of Wallingford. "It’s been a hard year."
Heitz said they are planning a cruise for April, but he was impressed by the dinner plans Tamayo had for Thursday night: Michael’s Trattoria in Wallingford.
Tanya Williams said she has been hankering for one of New Haven’s more popular Italian delicacies.
"Pepe’s pizza," she said emphatically.
Spec. Amy Paulin of Shelton said she was looking forward to Italian food of any kind. She left for basic training two days after graduating with her psychology degree from Southern Connecti-cut State University, counseling soldiers needing help dealing with separation from their families or the horrors of war.
"I’m happy I’m home, but I’m glad I went," she said. "I’ve had experiences in the last year that a 24-year-old woman wouldn’t have in a year in Connecticut. And whatever you think about the war, I was there for the soldiers."
Gov. M. Jodi Rell was on hand to meet the buses, and to keep a promise.
"They’ve served our country well," Rell said. "I think the least a governor can do is to be here when they come home."
The first order of duty for Lt. Col. Robert Cody was to meet his 10-month-old daughter, Claire, whom he and his wife, Lisa, adopted last month in Taiwan, and whom he had never seen.
His parents, Bill and Janet Cody of Shelton, said Thursday night would involve a father-daughter sweetheart dance at the school of his 6-year-old daughter, Katelyn.
New Britain Herald reporter Eric Reed contributed to this story.
©The Bristol Press 2005
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