Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday November 27 2003 — A7 Troops returning from Iraq grateful to be home SAVANNAH Cm (API — After eight months in the Iraqi desert Spc James Musterson returned home barely a week before Thanksgiving with plenty of reasons to he grate- At nearby Fort Stewart where the Army’s Jnl Infantry Division returned from Iraq at ' summer's end Army ctvnks prepared for their biggest nieal of the year for soldiers who couldn't make it home ' Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield expected to feed as many as 4(XX) single soldiers Army families and retirees at their four dining halls with a full menu includ-und- ful The Army soldier had survived a war unscathed Though he had trained troops in his unit in ' donning gas masks and protec tive suits they hud never come chemical or biological er ing turkey hum and shrimp cocktail us well as comhreud dressing sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie Army cooks consider Thanksgiving their Super Bowl said Chief Warrant Officer John Nelums the division food adviser who last year served turkey and trimmings in Kuwait to troops in tents It's a day when officers ' show up to serve food to their soldiers and cooks are allowed to stray from strict recipe instructions to give the meal a more personal touch “We have a lot of soldiers who aren't able to get home and that's one of the primary reasons we have this big meal" Nelums said “The sol- diers that are preparing the meal just got buck ( from Iraq) themselves so they are going to make sure it's more special It’s as pedal for them as it is for the guys that are serving" The small house on Hunter Army Airfield where Sgt Sibley 27 last week rejoined his wife Mindy and their three small hoys will be packed for the holiday week-- ' end They thought some relatives might have to stay in hotels but Mindv said "We'll make room We've got air mattresses” Even if it's packed "It can't be as had as a tent in Iriq" she said At dinner Leroy Sibley's looking forward to his moth- -' er's Louisiana deep fried turkey his grandmother's homemade pumpkin cheese- cake and sweet potato pie and his mother-in-lasalads and side dishes But he's especially' looking forward to time with family — “that's what Thanksgiving's all about " attacks Masterson’s parents came from Virginia to greet him as he stepped off the plane at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah And his wife " brought along Madison Pearl the baby daughter he had yet to meet - “To see her for the first time and hold her for the first time you can't really put into words how that feels” Musterson said “It’sa big deal We ' expected we would be home sometime around Thanksgiv-in- g but everybody was wor- tied whether we would make it or not" With thousands of US troops home from the war months ago and thousands more still fighting its after-mat- h soldiers in the 260th Quartermaster Battalion didn't know until two weeks ago ' w hether they would celebrate Thanksgiving at Mom’s dining room table or in desert mess ' halls Though 49 6f them made it back Nov 8 another ' HdIkLiv Lenox dinner plates and sul'acf plates fuim 'the rHoliday" Holiday Nouveau 'Holiday' Nouveau Platinum'- Wintei Gieetiiiis' 1 -- 109 remain in Iraq where the ' battalion transports fuel ih 5000-gallo- 'Rustic Rett or "Rustic Green' colluctimts ' 50! Reg' 13O0:24 ?5 sale 850-1- 8 ' tanker trucks to n other Army units ' “A lot of people Thanks-givin- g is going to be sad for them and we want to remem-- ' her the troopswho are stillin Iraq” said Carolyn Masterson Spc Masterson's mother in ' Bedford Vault's a happytime but a bittersweet time” As for her son Mrs Master- son said he looks like he was fed in Iraq “but Im sure' he’s going to put on a few pounds between now and ' Trim-A-Ho-me tabletop Santas religious porcelain figurines cloisonne ornaments tWihter Glen lighted village and accessories and our decorative ribbon filigree collection Reg $15-$6sale 650-390- 9 1 600-135- 0 5 ' ' For breakf asthe wantsalot: pork any kind any variety V ham and what he calls back bacon Fried eggs not scrambled” ' ' Capt Greg Brown who i? V: commands many of the retum-- V ing troops said they worked day and night tio pack gear and ' scrub vehicles for the return 'i trip Getting home a week early not only meant soldiers 'r would get a fouray holiday pass but they would have' time'' to make travel plans' with ' off Spode "Christmas Tree" 'dinner' plates! salad plates ceteiit howls or sale huigs Recj 14 Save- npw on Christmas card v Christmas”' ‘‘He’s already requested "some special things” she said 25 & Giftwaro Christmas LAST 3 DAYS TO SAVE! Of fat-'0- -v - fam-Vi- Food&'Cahdy-v6ur entire stock food and from assorted chpcblates food gift baskets plush with ' candy and more from lots of makers Assortment varies ' store sale 37M750: Reg by Stock up and save dri-- great collection of tablecloths ' mats napkins and kitchen ’accessories from Diljard's ' Trimmings Foraston Trends Kemp & Beatley and WC Oasigns ln assorted colors styles and sites'' 2 eats 200-160- 0 Reg caridy-Choos- S5-SS- - ' $4-53- 50°oTOFF ly 'v' of see holidays as ‘‘You kind : benchmarks” said Cajpt Josh Fields 2& ‘‘‘Maybe I’ll be home by Labor Day’ and then ‘Maybe I'll be home in time to take my son And now Tm back for Thanksgiving’ Fields a logistics officer said he plans to spend a quiet Thanksgiving at hoine with his wife Jenni and son Jacob Fields says he's ' also finding himself thankful for little things such as gro-eeshopping — which he used to consider a chore “1 guess it's just all of those things you take for granted” he said “It's just the freedom to choose what you're going to - g’ : ry ' eat” Sgt Veronica Calloway a personnel administrator will be heading home to Wallace NC for her large family's traditional Thanksgivinggathering But someone important will be missing t her hus- band who will remain in Iraq until December She and her husband Staff Sgt Brett Calloway both deployed in March and had to leave thejr son Jeremiah and their twins Michael and Matthew with her parents in North Carolina Both soldier-parenliterally missed half the twins' young lives includ- ing their first birthday July 24 “I don't know how they're going to lake me” Calloway said “I'm a little nervous Especially what if I try to pick them up and they cry?” As for her husband “He's very military minded so he's OIL” Calloway said “I probably would have been crying ” - : ts - Choose from our or "Phoenix" or "Houston" down comforters hi full queen or kmg sizes Featherbed and 'Phoenix available m white 'Houston' available hi navy sienna or khaki Reg S79-S99 330thrasd-coun- t 100 cotton woven jacquard sheet sets si queen or lung sizes In dusty blue taupe or moss Reg $99 PiHowcaaes also available reg $3 aale MJ9 pair Selection vanes by store Al items subject to prior sale Dan Rkw sets contain a comforter bed skst two pillow shame and a 25(Hhraadcount sheet set (flat sheet fitted sheet and two pillowcases) In fill 19 queen or lung sizes Reg 589-S1 Comforter Sots Oen Mver woven comforter sets av assorted colors and patterns Sets contain an oversized comforter bed skrt and two ' pdlow shams hi queen or lung sizes ' ! |