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thedrifter
08-26-07, 09:08 AM
Sailor home from Iraq gets dawn wake-up
By Steve Rzasa
(Created: Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:12 AM EDT)

HOPE — U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Kyle Bragg was probably hoping to sleep in late his first morning back in Maine.

Instead, Jay Carlsen’s trumpet woke him up bright and early just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, welcoming him back home after a year’s service in Iraq.

Bragg specialized in electronic warfare with the Joint Composite CREW Squadron 1 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, just outside Tikrit. Speicher is named for a U.S. Navy pilot, Scott Speicher, who was shot down over Iraq in 1991 and has been missing since.

The CREW in the name of Bragg’s unit stands for Counter-Radio-controlled improvised explosive device Electronic Warfare, according to an article printed by the Military Officers Association of America. In short, this U.S. Navy unit helps other military branches jam the electronic signals which set off the IED roadside bombs popular with Iraqi fighters.

It was formed last year after military officials found that Marines and soldiers were having trouble with the jamming equipment blocking their communications, as well as the bomb signals, according to the article.

Bragg finished his year of service in Iraq back in May, and initially returned to his new base in San Antonio, Texas, for a few months before catching a flight to Portland on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Bragg’s mother, Tina Russo, set up the early morning greeting for her son. About 25 people showed up, including her fellow workers from the post office in Camden, for whom Russo is a contracted mail deliverer.

The crowd had almost all gathered at the end of Russo’s driveway on Beverage Road by five minutes of 6 in the quiet, clear morning air, ignoring the mosquitoes hungrily swarming about, until they were awaiting only Carlsen and his trumpet.

One person announced after talking with Carlsen via cellular phone, “He said he’s comin’ over the hill.”

“What hill?” another person asked.

“I don’t know,” the caller replied. However, several people suggested it was the bridge at Kittery or Mount Washington even, much to many of the guests’ amusement.

After Carlsen pulled up in his pickup truck, everyone headed over to the house, where Russo greeted them with wide grin and hugs. “You brought him home,” someone called to her.

The crowd followed Russo and Carlsen quietly around the back of the house, toward Bragg’s bedroom. Carlsen positioned himself at arm’s length from the bedroom window, then blasted out “Reveille,” the bugle call used by the Armed Forces as a wake-up while the American flag is raised.

There was no visible response from any humans, but the family dog appeared at the back door, eagerly wagging its tail.

“Probably don’t got the right uniform on,” someone quipped, followed by chuckles.

Tina Russo of Hope greets guests at her Beverage Road home prior to waking up her son. STEVE RZASA

Russo got the door unlocked, and Carlsen stepped inside, playing a shorter tune just outside the bedroom.

Still no one got up.

“Jay, go jump on the bed!” someone else called, to more laughs.

After a few minutes, Bragg came out, looking sleepy but smiling, to a round of applause. “Good morning, everybody,” he said.

“Good morning, Kyle,” everyone gamely responded.

“My mom thanks you for being here,” he continued, a comment which elicited great laughter and clapping.

The guests hung around for cookies and doughnuts, as Bragg accepted thanks, handshakes and hugs from the visitors. He talked briefly with Dick Benner, a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II.

About 25 people attended the welcoming party for Kyle Bragg, under a tent behind his family’s home in Hope. STEVE RZASA

At one point Russo greeted Benner, who uses a cane, and asked “Do you need to sit down?”

“No, no,” Benner replied. “I’m too damned ornery!”

(Steve Rzasa can be reached at srzasa@courierpub.com.)

Ellie