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Flags, big crowds welcome back Delavan-based Guard unit
1144th deployed in April 2007 in support of Iraq war
By Bob Holliday
bholliday@pantagraph.com
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DELAVAN — Alyssha Pfeiffer, several months pregnant, threw her arms around her husband, Staff Sgt. Sean Pfeiffer, and kissed him. | Were you there? Submit a photo online | Photo gallery

Waiting with her at the Delavan armory was Delavan resident Diane Pfeiffer, his mother.

He saw her and said, “Mom,” bringing tears to her eyes.

This was the first time either of the women in Pfeiffer’s life had seen him since he was home on leave in December.

Emotions in the Pfeiffer family and in other families ran high Tuesday as the 1144th Illinois National Guard Transportation Battalion returned home, ending a yearlong tour of duty that took them to Kuwait and Iraq.

Sean Pfeiffer, who lives in South Pekin, said he was looking forward to fishing and mushroom hunting.

Among his fishing buddies will be his father, Bob Pfeiffer, who on Tuesday stood with his arm around his son’s shoulder at the armory.

Moments before the father-son embrace, Delavan Mayor Liz Skinner told the audience of about 700 people, “Today is truly the happiest of days. Welcome home.”

While the soldiers got their share of applause during a parade through town and the short dismissal ceremony at the armory, they also applauded Delavan residents for their support.

“The community support in Delavan is the best I’ve seen in a long time,” said Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of the Illinois National Guard.

Among the 60 soldiers applauding the community was 1st Sgt. David Holland Jr. of Delavan. Holland would soon be reunited with his wife, Beth Holland, who had their son, David III, in tow.

Beth Holland, who had avoided news accounts of the war while her husband was in Kuwait, now can start following the news again.

The Hollands communicated by webcam and talked daily by telephone, she said.

“We don’t have any real plans. We’ll just stay home remembering each other,” she said Tuesday.

As the soldiers rode through town on fire trucks to the armory for the dismissal ceremony, residents lining the streets honored their heroes with cheers, clapping and shouts of “thank you.”

Schoolchildren sat on the curbs waving small American flags and shouting “Delavan” and “USA.”

The parade was led by a Delavan police car, and there were bagpipes and motorcycles. American flags were everywhere.

Among those watching along the parade route were Jim and Dawnie Lancaster of Sunnyland. Their grandson, Sgt. Corey Friedrich of Havana, was among the returning soldiers.

Steve Dunahee, who carried a tiny American flag, came all the way from Salem to show support for his brother-in-law, Lt. Col. Eric Murray, commander of the battalion.

Late last week, the soldiers began a reintegration process at Camp Atterbury, Ind. That included medical evaluations and preliminary mental health checks.

They returned to Delavan by bus Tuesday, and the city was ready for them.

“If you know Delavan at all, you know we have a parade to celebrate anything special,” said Harriet Szadkowski, a parade coordinator.

The Delavan-based Guard unit, made up of men and women from across Illinois, was part of the larger Joint Logistics Task Force at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The task force helped transport supplies via truck because Iraq has little rail transportation.

The battalion, which supported nearly 90 missions hauling cargo, was selected in March to compete as a semifinalist for the Deployment Excellence Award in the Department of the Army, National Guard, Small Unit category.

Honors aside, Sean Pfeiffer has something equally important on his mind. Next week he and his wife will find out if they’ll be having a boy or a girl.

Take a look
Staff Sgt. John Thompson of Washington waves to people lining the parade route in downtown Delavan as the 1144th Transportation Battalion returns from Kuwait to the National Guard Armory in Delavan Tuesday afternoon. (The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (April 15, 2008)
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Reader comments on this story - 10 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Molon Labe wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:49 AM:

" Welcome home troops.
God bless you.
"

Anon wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:14 AM:

" Welcome home 1144th Illinois National Guard Transportation Battalion.

God bless you all and thank you for a job well done. "

The Messenger wrote on Apr 16, 2008 7:58 AM:

" Saying you "support the troops", but do not support the war rings extremely hollow. Its like saying "look at me! I'm not racist! I like Michael Jordan!"

Support for the troops is incomplete at best, disingenuous and hateful at worst when that support does not include support for their mission.

So for now on libs, save your disingenuous platitudes. When you don't support their mission, you may as well be spitting on them like some stinky hippie. Which is what you'd really rather do anyway. Its just not PC. "

cats55ire wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:16 AM:

" We love you and appreciate your sacrifice!

I don't support the war, but I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!!!

"

BNHuman wrote on Apr 15, 2008 11:06 PM:

" To: riobravo; If they want to stay home they need to leave the military! btw.. I am in the Guard "

riobravo wrote on Apr 15, 2008 10:17 PM:

" LETS KEEP THEM HOME. WELCOME HOME GUYS "

itsme wrote on Apr 15, 2008 3:57 PM:

" Thank You. "

calzak wrote on Apr 15, 2008 3:12 PM:

" GOD BLESS YOU ALL and thank you for your sacrifice!! "

jack in the box wrote on Apr 15, 2008 2:55 PM:

" Welcome home and God bless you all. "

haleycolby2 wrote on Apr 15, 2008 2:45 PM:

" Welcome Home Ladies and Gentelman.. Thanks for serving your country your very brave women and men... May God be with you..... "
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