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FORT HUACHUCA — On Sept. 11, 2003, Ronald Fruchey was beginning Army basic training.
In March of that year, the United States and its coalition partners attacked Iraq.
On Monday, Fruchey, now a specialist with Company C, 40th Signal Battalion, held his 6-month-old daughter Eliana.
 For the first time, Spc. Ronald Fruchey holds his 6-month-old daughter Eliana after he returned to Fort Huachuca from Iraq on Monday after a year deployment. Fruchey is a member of Company C, 40th Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade. (Bill Hess-Herald/Review) |
Monday was 9/11, five years after the U.S. was attacked by terrorists and three years after he started basic training to become a soldier, and it was the day he came home from Iraq.
While Sept. 11, 2001 and 2003, both have special meanings, for Fruchey it is this year’s Sept. 11 that has the most.
Looking at Eliana, one of two girls he and his wife, Patci, have — the other is 30-month-old Tatciana — the soldier said he has received photos and video of the baby but “This is my first time to hold her.”
For him, his wife and Tatciana, who later he would carry on his shoulder as she wore his military cap, the GI said he has one main thing to think about.
“I’m just happy to be home,” said the 11th Signal Brigade soldier.
In small groups, soldiers of the 40th have returned to the post, recently.
But, in a few weeks, the main group of more than 100 are expected to return after serving a year providing communications to U.S. and other forces in Iraq.
Fruchey was one of seven who arrived by bus from Fort Bliss, Texas, where a planeload of soldiers from that installation arrived home this past weekend.
For those waiting to welcome the small group, 9/11 of 2001 wasn’t far from some of their minds.
Lt. Col. Mark Zerger, brigade chaplain, started the welcome-home ceremony in Eifler Gym by asking the more than 100 in attendance to take a moment to remember the nearly-3,000 lives lost five years ago.
While it was a joyous time to welcome soldiers home it is also a time to reflect on “those who lost their lives on 9/11,” he said.
The safe return of the seven, and others who returned previously, and those yet to come home, is important, the chaplain said.
What soldiers of the 11th Signal Brigade and their fellow GIs are doing is ensuring America’s freedoms, Zerger said.
What is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan is critical to “never allow another 9/11,” the chaplain said.
Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Linda Jantzen was like a head cheerleader as the group marched into the gym.
Waving her hands she had the audience standing and cheering for a long time, as yells, whistles and applause echoed off the walls and ceiling of the building.
She and other speakers spoke in glowing terms of American Legion 52 Riders, a group of motorcyclists who escort returning soldiers and show up to ceremonies.
The commander of the Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command called the riders a group of special people.
“We have one set of VIPs here this morning,” Brig. Gen. Carroll Pollett said, pointing to the riders.
As for the returning seven, the general said like other soldiers of the 11th, they have ensured to follow through three important functions — being soldiers first, secondly being the very best and thirdly was not to lose contact with their families.
Brigade Commander Col. John Hildebrand praised the soldiers who have returned, those who are waiting to come home and the most recent group that deployed to Iraq.
To the returning GIs, he said, “Job well done. We’re proud of you.”
With permission the returning soldiers broke rank and hugged loved ones and friends.
Soon the gym was empty.
Before she left, Jantzen reflected on the symbolism of the day the seven returned.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States was attacked, and five years later the war against terrorism continues, she said.
Today’s soldiers, like those of the past, know serving in war time is the most important thing they can do, Jantzen said.
“You train for war. It is the ultimate test,” she said.
The battalion commander said Signal Corps soldiers, like all those who are serving know there is no known conclusion when it comes to the war on terrorism.
“They know (that) we don’t know when it’s going to end,” Jantzen said.
Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
Joe Hicks wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:22 PM: