115th Returns Home

115th Returns Home


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Alex Cabrero Reporting We're seeing them more and more, but it never gets old. This morning more soldiers from Utah's 115th National Guard came home from war.

A year ago soldiers and their families were crying because they had to leave each other for war. Today they were crying because that's now all in the past.

Even with six kids Becky Boucher just felt alone.

Becky Boucher: “Someone to cuddle with at night, because I'm a big wimp. Ha.”

Yeah, but even non-wimps need someone else, and her someone was finally coming home after spending more than a year on the other side of the planet. No way was she missing out on a front-row spot. Her husband, and several other husbands, fathers, brothers --you name it-- all coming home with the 115th Engineering Group.

It's kind of like being a kid at Christmas, knowing Santa was on his way. But instead of reindeer and jingle bells, her present came with police cars and sirens.

Every soldier has on the same uniform, though, and it's hard to tell who's who until they're dismissed. Then everything you've been waiting for, hoping for, missing, all just seems to melt away.

The loneliness is gone.

“Yeah, Daddy's home. Yeah!”

...and it's time to get to know each other again.

Some 75 families in Utah are going through the same thing.

Robert Davis, 115th Engineering Group: “It's a shock. It's hard to believe. I'm happy to be home.”

Troy Lopez, 115th Engineering Group: “It's been a long time. Glad to be home.”

There's no way you can appreciate home the way these guys do.

Andrew Boucher: “I just sat and stared at the sky because it's so beautiful here.”

Becky Boucher: “I just want to go away and be alone, away from everybody. And have our own little paradise for a little while.”

I asked several soldiers what they wanted to do now -- have a big steak, drive their cars, hike into the mountains. The most popular answer was, just go home and relax, knowing you can be at peace and no one is trying to hurt you.

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