The Murray State News

Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: News

The crowed gathered at the Calloway County High School football field Sunday waited for a year.

Bundled up in coats, scarves and gloves, the families and friends stood together, in the cold, waiting. The crowd cheered as suddenly, fire trucks with lights flashing appeared, followed by police cars, motorcycles and finally, two coach buses. The Murray-based 438th Military Police Company returned from its year-long deployment, which began with training at Fort Dix, N.J., and included time in Iraq.

Spc. Jeremiah Bailey, from Louisville, Ky., completed his first tour and was ready to sit back and relax. Bailey's mother, father, nephew and girlfriend all welcomed him home.

"It's a different world over there," Bailey said. "I missed the basic things like sitting around, relaxing and going to the movies."

He said the trip home was long (about 20 hours) and exhausting, but well worth it. As for the future, Bailey said he hopes to start school at University of Louisville, look for a house and join the police department.

Spc. Kenneth Kilgore, from Paducah, Ky., said he was also excited to see family and friends, many of whom came to welcome him home.

"I never thought this day would come," he said. "Probably right now is the best feeling I've ever had in my life."

Taking the next few days to relax is on Kilgore's agenda. Eventually he said he hopes to study horticulture at Murray State.

But relaxing is something Sfc. Aaron Luker said he will have little time for. He is happy to get started on the "Honey Do List" his wife Marshea compiled for him, which includes changing hard-to-reach light bulbs.

"I'm looking forward to it," Sfc. Luker said. "I can't wait,"

Aaron also looks forward to the diapers he will have to change. A month after he left, Marshea found out she was pregnant. Aaron came home for two weeks when his son Shad was born. He now looks forward to spending time with his family, including son Kaler, 9, and daughter Samantha, 4.

Things were somewhat new for Pv2 Anthony Fortenberry, who got married during his two-week leave in April. His wife Kara attended the welcome home ceremony.

"It hasn't hit me yet; it's really surreal," she said.

While Fortenberry was gone, his wife purchased a house, which he has only seen pictures of. Anthony said he is eager for his first tour of their new place and is ready to start working on the home.

A father-son duo, Sfc. Class David Laster and son Sgt. Michael Laster, completed their second deployment together. Michael said he is ready to relax and start school again while David said he is looking forward to time off and getting to know his wife again.

David said he was glad they were deployed together.

"It was comforting," he said. "We had a piece of home with us."

Students from White College also helped welcome home the troops by making a scrapbook full of pictures, which will stay at the armory. The students also made a poster to welcome home College Head Joy Navan's son, Sgt. Michael Navan, who is a member of the unit.

Emily Wuchner can be reached at emily.wuchner@

murraystate.edu.

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