By Foster Klug, The Associated Press
ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) -- Members of the 115th Military Police Battalion, pressed into service almost immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks, finally came home Friday after serving at the Pentagon, in Cuba and in Iraq.
“This unit has been the tip of the spear in the war on terrorism,” said Maj. Charles Kohler, a spokesman for the Maryland Army National Guard. “They saw what happened on Sept. 11 and started showing up... It’s time for them now to spend time with their families.”
About 250 people, including Gov. Robert Ehrlich, gathered at Aberdeen Proving Ground to meet the National Guard unit. As its members filed into a gymnasium just after dawn, the crowd screamed and cheered, many waving flags and red, white and blue balloons.
“I don’t think anyone expected a war to break out when they joined,” Theresa Williams said as she waited to greet her fiance. “We expected more of a weekend thing. These last two years have been stressful, very difficult.”
Several children carried “Welcome Home, Daddy” signs.
Sgt. Michael Ward, 33, looked forward to seeing his daughter -- for only the second time.
“Last time I saw my daughter she was 5 days old, now she’s 4 1/2 months old,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
His wife, Regina, added: “It’s going to break his heart at first because she just doesn’t know him. Hopefully, he’ll be patient and she’ll come around.”
Capt. Edwin Leavitt, 41, knew his life was going to change when he saw the twin towers fall Sept. 11.
A day after the planes slammed into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, the unit stood watch at the Pentagon. The battalion also helped set up the prisoner camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, and spent eight months guarding the airport outside Baghdad.
Now, members must readjust to civilian life.
“You have to get used to not driving with a machine gun on the top of your automobile,” Leavitt said. “Here, your biggest problem is finding a parking spot at the mall to do your Christmas shopping.”
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Durand said she’ll have to get used to running water, appliances, electricity and “real food.”
The first thing she planned to do when she got home was clear her closet of anything reminding her of her uniform.
“I’m never wearing tan again if I can help it,” Durand said.