Shaffer
05-27-03, 09:06 AM
Americans honored their war dead with ceremonies and soggy Memorial Day
parades, even as others celebrated the return of U.S. troops from the war in
Iraq and paid tribute to those still serving abroad.
The memorials came on one of the most violent days for U.S. troops since the
war in Iraq ended last month. An American soldier was killed in northern
Iraq yesterday and eight others were wounded in two separate attacks.
But for troops returning home, it was a day for celebration. At Camp Lejeune
in North Carolina, families waited in the rain to welcome 2,300 Marines and
sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the first major Marine
Corps unit returning to the United States from combat in Iraq aboard three
ships.
"It's good to see U.S. soil, really good," said Cpl. Travis Hoots of
Roodhouse, Ill., who was greeted by his wife, Jamie, and their 7-month-old
son.
"I spent a lot of nights thinking about what this day would be like," Hoots
said as he looked at his new baby. "I'm just sort of dumbfounded."
parades, even as others celebrated the return of U.S. troops from the war in
Iraq and paid tribute to those still serving abroad.
The memorials came on one of the most violent days for U.S. troops since the
war in Iraq ended last month. An American soldier was killed in northern
Iraq yesterday and eight others were wounded in two separate attacks.
But for troops returning home, it was a day for celebration. At Camp Lejeune
in North Carolina, families waited in the rain to welcome 2,300 Marines and
sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the first major Marine
Corps unit returning to the United States from combat in Iraq aboard three
ships.
"It's good to see U.S. soil, really good," said Cpl. Travis Hoots of
Roodhouse, Ill., who was greeted by his wife, Jamie, and their 7-month-old
son.
"I spent a lot of nights thinking about what this day would be like," Hoots
said as he looked at his new baby. "I'm just sort of dumbfounded."