Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Marine returns to heros welcomeBy J. FRANK LYNCH After eight months fighting insurgents in the streets of Fallujah in Iraq, Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Milewski of Fayetteville was looking forward to the peace and quiet of spending an entire February on leave. But when he pulled up in the driveway with his parents, Chris and Lynn Milewski, Feb. 3, it was clear the quiet would have to wait, at least a few hours longer. Spilling onto the lawn of the Rosewood Drive house were two dozen flag-waving friends and relatives whod waited anxiously in the cold for two hours to greet the soldier. There was no hiding the homecoming. Banners reading, Welcome home Chris! and, Thank You, were stretched between trees adorned with yellow ribbons, and cedar trees near the mailbox were decorated top to bottom with patriotic ribbons and red, white and blue Christmas lights. An American flag by the front door flapped in the crisp wind, and the Marine Corps banner hung proudly in the front picture window. Inside, crowding one corner of the living room, was the family Christmas tree and the unfinished business of presents that could finally be opened. A home-cooked feast simmered in the kitchen. The soft-spoken Milewski, a 2003 graduate of Fayette County High, seemed a little overwhelmed and didnt say much as he made the rounds of hugs and handshakes. We didnt get to communicate with him very often, said his father, adding: In some ways, I think its better if we dont. Milewski is a member of the 2nd Division, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Bravo Company based at Camp Lejuene, N.C. For the past several months, his job has been to man a machine gun stationed on the ground in an area where anti-democracy violence has been at its worst. Although he had seen first-hand the horrors of war, Milewskis eyes lit up whenever someone asked him about his mission in Iraq. The people are really nice, glad that were there, he said, especially the children. The story thats being told by the media over here just isnt the real story. His leave started the day before Iraqis began free elections. I'm hoping the elections went good and things will get better, he said, uncertain if his new assignment will take him back to that region. Just a few days before leaving for home, Milewski was invited to have breakfast with Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, head of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force command in Iraq. He and a handful of fellow Marines randomly selected to meet the commander were flown by transport to a remote base early that day, and back again. But a helicopter that took off moments after crashed, killing 30 Marines and a Navy corpsman on board. The crash made Jan. 26 the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the start of the war in Iraq. It was also Milewskis 20th birthday.
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