| 3/7/2008 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| HAPPY HOMECOMING: Staff Sgt. Rob Proctor hugs his mother, Donna, and looks for his wife, Sheri, as he and his fellow soldiers were welcomed home in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday. The Carrollton-based Kentucky Army National Guard Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery unit was deployed to Afghanistan since last year. Proctor, who now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, grew up in Trimble County, Ky. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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| HONORING THE FALLEN: Wray Jean Carnes, mother of fallen Kentucky Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carnes, holds his niece Ava Carnes and weeps as her son is honored at the homecoming ceremony of the Carrollton-based Kentucky Army National Guard Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery. While most families celebrated the safe return of their loved ones Thursday, Staff Sgt. Carnes’ family provided a reminder of the sacrifice made by the unit in the war. Carnes was killed in a gunfight with enemy soldiers in Afghanistan on Aug. 26. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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Tears of joy, sadness greet Kentucky soldiers
Sara Denhart
Courier Staff Writer
LOUISVILLE - For the last year, they all have waited for this day to come. Family and friends waited in the freezing cold with tears in their eyes, anxiety in their bellies and hope in their hearts. The fact that they had to wake up in the middle of the night to be there doesn't bother them.
Then, it comes. The crowd erupts with sighs of relief, cries of happiness and screams of joy. The family and friends have finally been reunited with their loved ones - the soldiers of the Carrollton-based Kentucky Army National Guard Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery unit.
As each solider came off the plane, a loved one greeted him with a smile, a hug, a kiss and tears of joy. However, as the soldiers separated into groups, one family had no one to greet.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carnes died Aug. 26, 2007, after he received wounds from small-arms fire in Afghanistan. On the day of his death, the local unit was looking for improvised explosive devices when it was engaged in combat. He was the first and only guardsman from the local unit to be killed in the line of duty since the Vietnam War.
Carnes' wife, Teresa Bernstein-Carnes, and his mother, Wray Jean Carnes, drove from Northern Kentucky to attend the welcome-home ceremony Thursday in Louisville. Carnes' memory and service were honored during the formal ceremony with an empty chair and place setting for one.
"We want them to know he will always be in our memories," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said.
"It touched us all very deeply," said Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky, his voice quivering. "You have my utmost respect and gratitude. You are my family."
One local family was touched by Carnes' death and was glad their soldier returned safely home. Trimble County residents Donna and Robert Proctor were at the ceremony to see their son, Staff Sgt. Rob Proctor, return home. Rob Proctor's wife, Sheri, was with Bernstein-Carnes when she received the news of her husband's death.
"We were up and down after Nick was killed," Donna Proctor said.
However, the family knew of the danger active military duty presents in time of war. Robert Proctor served during the Vietnam War; the Proctors' grandson, Trevor Stevens, serves in the Navy; and other family members were or are in the military.
"It's military all the way," Donna Proctor said.
During their son's deployment, Donna and Robert Proctor kept in touch with their son through phone calls. They said he was ready to come home after his 15-month mission.
Another local family kept in touch with their soldier through handwritten letters.
Carrollton resident Beth Toombs and her daughter, Lauren, who is a third-grade student at Kathryn Winn Primary, became involved with the local unit after attending the unit's deployment ceremony at Carroll County High School.
While Toombs did not know any of the soldiers personally, she and her daughter wanted to show their support for the troops. So, they attended the send-off ceremony.
After the ceremony, Toombs and her daughter approached some of the soldiers to express their appreciation for their sacrifice. One of the soldiers, Spc. Bruce Garcia, who lived in Northern Kentucky, still had a yellow rose in his hands. The roses were given to the soldiers to give to their family members so their families would remember them when they left for Afghanistan.
Garcia ended up giving the rose to Lauren, and from that point on, the soldier and the family have kept in contact. Toombs and her daughter have sent care packages to Garcia and he sent pictures and postcards back to the Carrollton family.
"He has always said in his letters that you need to show people that you care about them," Toombs said for her daughter, who was shy.
When Garcia returned on leave, he visited the Carrollton family and gave Lauren a burqa and an Afghan dress. He also came to Lauren's school, and she showed him around her classroom.
"We all had dinner together," Toombs said. "We've made friends for life."
Thursday, Lauren missed school and ruined her record for perfect attendance this year to see Garcia come home.
"Some things are more important," Toombs said.
The Carrollton community, along with Toombs, is working to plan another homecoming ceremony in June. The later date was planned so the soldiers could have time to spend with their families first.
"We're glad you're back," Carroll County Judge-Executive Harold "Shorty" Tomlinson said. "We're so proud of each and every one of you. We want to give you the recognition you deserve."
For now, the local soldiers have been dismissed after completing their mission. Throughout the week, the local unit will enjoy their favorite meals with family members they have not seen in more than a year.
"Welcome home, Alpha Battery," Maj. Gen. Tonini said. "You have served your tour of combat. Now, it's our turn to watch over you."
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