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OGDEN — There was little doubt what was happening Sunday on the 1500 block of 27th Street.
Yellow ribbons were tied in trees and on the front porch. And 25 American flags were posted in the front yard.
Sylvia Newman and Robert Fudge were welcoming home a solider.
Army Pfc. Seth Pack actually has been back in the U.S. for more than five months, and Newman, his mother, has been at his side for nearly all that time.
But until Sunday, he hadn't been home.
Pack, 20, was seriously injured July 1 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol in the Arghandab Valley near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
"I feel I'm lucky to be alive," Pack said after arriving Sunday night at Salt Lake City International Airport. "I'm lucky to have a family who supports me and lucky to live in this country."
Pack, walking with a cane, received cheers from family and friends as he descended an escalator at the airport.
Newman trailed behind him, smiling proudly, with her son's wheelchair in tow.
"As hard as it's been, it's just been a privilege to be by his side," she said. "His joining the Army wasn't my choice, but I've been so proud of him."
The fact that Pack is able to walk is remarkable, family members said.
"The initial report we got was that he had lost both legs, one at the knee and one below the knee," said Fudge, Pack's stepfather. "It turned out that his right leg was only broken below the knee, but he did lose the lower part of his left leg."
Pack's pelvis was broken in two places in the blast, and it shifted up into his body. He also suffered two broken fingers, as well as various soft-tissue and internal injuries.
As hard as it's been, it's just been a privilege to be by his side. His joining the Army wasn't my choice, but I've been so proud of him.
–- Sylvia Newman, mother
That same day, two other members of Pack's unit, the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, N.Y., also encountered IEDs. One of them died, and the other lost three limbs, Fudge said.
"On one hand, it's certainly a great tragedy for Seth," he said. "On the other hand, we're just extraordinarily thankful that it wasn't more serious than it was."
Pack has spent the past 5½ months in military hospitals, first at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and more recently at the National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
"His injuries were quite severe," Fudge said. "It has been and will continue to be quite a long healing process."
Newman has spent all but five days with her son, helping with his rehabilitation. She has documented that process on her blog, sethnewmanpack.blogspot.com.
Fudge said family, friends and neighbors all are excited to have Pack home — especially considering it's the holiday season.
"For him finally to be able to come home and be able to have some R&R is just a tremendous relief for us," Fudge said. "It's just great being able to have the whole family together again."
Written by Jared Pagewith contributions from Mike Anderson.
