By TAMMIE TOLER
By TAMMIE TOLER
Princeton Times
CHARLESTON — Tears and cheers flowed freely in equal measure Monday, as the first group of the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron and the 230th Forward Support Company D soldiers returned to a star-spangled welcome and the open arms of eager families.
“It’s really exciting, but there’s a lot of anxiety and concerns too,” Brandi Ruble said as she waited for her husband, Spc. Eric Ruble, to make his way from a plane at Yeager Airport to the National Guard Armory on Coonskin Drive.
It had been more than four months since Eric’s two-week R&R; leave and the last time the 26-year-old wife and her two young sons had the chance to see their husband and father face to face.
“We just can’t wait to see him and hug him and tell him we love him again,” Brandi said, as 6-year-old Tyler and 2-year-old Logan held up welcome-home signs all decked out in glitter.
One row up, Eric’s parents, Keith and Joetta Ruble, looked calm and collected on the outside, but just a few years ago, Keith walked a journey very similar to the one his son completed with this deployment. He was among the soldiers of the 1/150th when the unit was deployed in 2003 and spent a year in Iraq.
“It’s different this time, and it’s different to be here waiting on him,” Keith Ruble said. “I’m really glad he’s coming home safe, and I’m glad I can be here for him, because I know a lot of what he’s been through.”
•••
Flags were everywhere around the armory Monday.
A giant one, identified by one soldier’s family as the “biggest American flag we’ve ever seen,” dominated a wall at the front of the room. Sparkling red, white and blue banners hung from doors, pillars and poles. Smaller flags waved in the air, gripped by hands with little fingers and others riddled with arthritis. They adorned the uniforms of National Guard soldiers on hand for the celebration, rode inside shirt pockets and decorated ponytails of daughters, wives and mothers of soldiers who were set to return just after noon from a 14-month deployment to Iraq.
Families were primed for the plane to land at 12:30 p.m. and their lives to resume with their homes whole. Then, Major Gen. Allen Tackett delivered news no one wanted to hear.
“They were not able to land at Yeager,” he announced, explaining that the rain that fell on Charleston overnight and into the morning had left the runway too wet to safely land a 737 commercial jet.
The plane continued on to Dulles International Airport, 55 minutes away in the air, where it stopped for a layover and took on fuel.
“I heard from Jesse, and he said he just got Starbucks,” Tina Cook, Chief Warrant Officer Jesse Cook’s wife, reported as families who had already waited a year to celebrate a homecoming settled in for another delay.
Cook, of Princeton, said she couldn’t quite explain the mix of emotions that ruled the day.
“We’re very excited; everybody’s excited,” she said. “With the excitement, you’re nervous, and you’re anxious, and you know you’re going to go through a time just getting used to being together again.”
“It’s better to have them home safe than sorry,” Rebecca Fleming reminded herself as she anxiously awaited word from her soldier, 1st Sgt. James Fleming.
The Beckley woman said the hardest part of the deployment had been worrying about her husband’s security. Her family, faith and near-constant communication with James kept her strong, and though she hated to hear the plane had been diverted, knowing James was on American soil eased the frustration of the wait.
“We’re going to celebrate Christmas, whenever he gets home,” she said. “And, the grandbabies can’t wait to get hold of him.”
The flight diversion also took its toll on the littlest patriots present. Some colored signs to welcome mommy or daddy home, while others took advantage of the Starbase programs set up by the National Guard, found comfort in the candy the Family Readiness Group Coordinator Sherry Scarberry cheerfully sold, or sought a warm embrace in which to nap.
Sharon Brake, of Morgantown, played with little Nora, as she waited on her two sons to walk through the armory doors. She proudly wore a personalized T-shirt announcing that her two sons — Staff Sgts. Brian and Travers Brake — were her heroes.
“Now that it’s delayed, we just want them to get home safe,” she said.
•••
For many in the audience, military service was as much a family tradition as holiday gatherings and sports outings.
As the Arbogast family awaited the return of their son, brother, husband and father, they counted the things they couldn’t wait to do — dinner, Christmas and holding their soldier close. Aaron Arbogast, a member of the Eleanor-based 230th Delta Company, reportedly was eager to get home and enjoy a good night’s sleep in the comfort of his own bed.
The homecoming was not a new experience for Larry and Joyce Arbogast and the family that accompanied them.
“Our two older sons were in Desert Storm, so we’ve been coming to these things for 20 years,” Larry said. “That doesn’t mean you ever get used to it, though.”
Guard Spc. Brittany Allen sat her three boys on the floor to play, while they passed time until their dad, Cpl. Josh Allen returned.
“They’ve kept me going,” Brittany said, referring to her sons, ages 6, 4 and 2. “The Guard has been really understanding and supportive too, but I’m really ready for him to come home.”
At the American Legion table, where volunteers served cookies, pizza, soda and more so families wouldn’t have to leave the armory for lunch, Janet Mann said serving anxious families has become a mission of sorts for her. A veteran herself, Mann recalled the days when soldiers weren’t welcomed so warmly.
“Every time they come in or go out, I’m here,” she said. “I wish somebody had done this for my husband when he got home from Vietnam, so I’m doing it now for these soldiers.”
•••
Though drizzle kept most of the day damp, rays of sun and hope shined inside the armory windows at about 2:50 p.m. At 3:18, Lt. Col. Mike Cadle declared, “I have an update … They’re on the ground.”
The relaxed atmosphere of the audience was electrified immediately. As applause and cheers broke out, nearly everyone left their seats, and the West Virginia Army National Guard’s 249th Band struck up rousing patriotic tunes to welcome troops in a noteworthy fashion.
As the minutes ticked slowly by, loved ones inched their way closer to the armory doors in hopes of reaching their soldiers first. Staring out the glass doors of the building that could barely contain the enthusiasm within, one woman gleefully announced, “The buses are coming! They’re here!”
The first few soldiers through the doors stoically made their way toward the front of the armory, where officials had declared there would be a final formation before they were released to their families. But, the order didn’t last long, as exuberant wives, relieved parents and eager children broke through the lines of well-wishers and embraced their soldiers.
Toward the front, Will Thompson happily greeted his wife, Suzanne, and children, Ethan and Ava, even giving Ava’s doll a few kisses — at the little girl’s prompting.
“It’s good to be back. It’s good, good, good,” he said. “I get to retire now, or in July.”
This was the second active-duty deployment for Thompson, who usually works as a nurse at Princeton Community Hospital.
Not far away, Tim Tate held his little boy, Cayden, and wife, Rachel, close, declaring that he felt “great.”
“We’re just going to go home and give daddy and his son some time to get to know each other again,” Rachel said, eager to get back to their Athens home.
Sgt. Joe Ellison, of Pipestem, had a tough time answering questions, between the playful slaps of his son, Cooper, but he said he was happy to be home.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
Like many of the families Monday, Tina, Tyler and Jesse Cook plotted a place to have dinner, “anywhere he wants to go,” according to Tina.
And, back with the Ruble crew, Eric was surrounded by the extended family that arrived to welcome him home. Like Brandi, he said there were lots of different feelings involved in the day.
“I’m proud and honored that I can do the mission and that the Army allows me to do it,” he said.
•••
Approximately 150 of the 500 men and women of the 1/150th and the 230th Delta Company returned Monday. Another 120 or so were expected to land in Charleston Wednesday, and the rest will arrive in waves over the coming weeks.
— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.
