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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 11, 2004 Staff Sgt. Jerry Kinman, a National Guardsman from Medford, is greeted Friday evening by his wife Brittney and other members of his family after arriving at Medford airport with fellow soldiers. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell No place like home By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Christmas came early this year for Renee Kinman, whose son, Jerry, returned Friday to Medford following nearly a year of overseas service with the Oregon Army National Guard. "I’m just ready to explode," said Renee, who anxiously waited for her son along with about two dozen other family members inside a terminal at the Medford airport, where several members of the Guard’s 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry arrived just after 7 p.m. "Our boy’s coming back — hopefully, he’s back for good," she said. And when Staff Sgt. Jerry Kinman finally stepped through the doors, he was mobbed by loved ones who had not seen his face in nearly a year. Kinman, a 1997 North Medford High School graduate who has been serving the past several months in Iraq, appeared a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. "This is great," he said after sharing a long kiss with his wife, Brittney. "I’m just waiting to enjoy it." Advertisement All of the citizen soldiers who arrived Friday in Medford were greeted with similar, albeit smaller, receptions to the one enjoyed by Kinman. "This is so nice," Staff Sgt. Brock Kelly of Roseburg said. "There are so many smiling faces here. It’s great to come home to find out people really appreciate what we’re doing." Kelly, who has been away for the past 14 months, including nine months in Iraq, said he is looking forward to spending time with family, and a fishing trip to Idaho. A total of 53 soldiers are returning home to Oregon this week after serving in Iraq. A demobilization ceremony will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Medford armory. "I’m incredibly proud of each soldier," Brigadier General Raymond C. Byrne Jr. said in a prepared statement. "They’ve performed their duty with the utmost skill, poise and dedication to their nation and the people of this great state. I’m honored to welcome them home." Many of the returning soldiers, who were largely stationed at Camp Cook near Baghdad, served in hot spots like Sadr City, Najaf and Fallujah. Before arriving home, they spent five days at Fort Hood, Texas, for debriefing. The group, all members of the Guard’s 1/186th, stepped forward to augment the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry based in Cottage Grove. The 1/186th is headquartered in Ashland. The soldiers are returning early from their yearlong deployment, which began in March, because they reached their 24-month service cap within a five-year period, according to Guard spokesman Capt. Mike Braibish. He was referring to a law passed by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks which limited how much active duty time a member of the Guard or military reserves could serve during a five-year period. The soldiers who returned were among members of the 1/186th deployed to the Sinai Peninsula as part of a United Nations peacekeeping effort in 2002 and 2003. Eight months later they were activated for the Iraq mission. All told, 95 Oregon Guard members were qualified to return early, officials said. Of those who didn’t return, 30 chose to stay in Iraq while another five were sent back for rehabilitation because of injuries. Those who volunteered to stay will be paid $1,000 a month in addition to their regular pay as an incentive from the Department of Defense. The remaining members of the contingent are expected to stay in Iraq until their one-year duty is completed in March, officials said. In addition to Ashland, the 1/186th has units in Medford, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls and Roseburg. More than 700 soldiers with the 2/162nd continue to serve in Baghdad. That number includes local soldiers attached to the unit. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune reporter Paul Fattig contributed to this story. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers