DONIPHAN WELCOMES HOME 32 GUARDSMEN

DONIPHAN -- More than 3,000 people lined an eight-block stretch of Walnut Street here last week to welcome home 32 national guardsmen from Operation Desert Storm.

Doniphan's citizen-soldiers returned home 164 days after becoming the first Ripley County unit since World War II to be activated into federal service. The reception was believed to be the largest gathering ever on a Doniphan city street, said Mayor Larry Ponder.

"Some of the activities at the ball park may come close to it, but I believe this was by far the largest gathering we've ever had on the street," said Ponder.

"I'm sure we had over 3,000 people," Chief of Police Richard Joyner said of the Tuesday event. "I know it's the fullest I've ever seen Walnut Street for any parade we've had and I've been here 18 years."

Waves and cheers greeted the troops' bus for a large part of the four-hour ride from Fort Leonard Wood. At Van Buren, "a whole courtyard full of people" were waiting, a witness said.

Ponder, Joyner and Highway Patrol officers Dale Moreland and Greg Morgan met the bus at the Highway 60-21 intersection in Carter County.

"Along the whole route there were people outside waiting and waving," said Joyner. "There were probably 30 to 40 people at Grandin. It made you feel real good."

The Ripley County Courthouse and other businesses were closed during the parade and ceremony. Nearly 1,200 Doniphan school students were dismissed from class and lined the parade route.

As the color guard from VFW Post 3485 led the way, 120 band students - ranging from sixth-grade to senior high - played "When the Casons Come Marching Along."

"We had 10 minutes to rehearse with everyone together," said Kevin White, Doniphan High School band director.

A 20-minute ceremony at the Doniphan Armory included a speech from Rep. Joe Driskill, Greg Branum from Rep. Bill Emerson's staff, Col. Donald Carter and retired Chief Warrant Office Cecil Brake.

Final comments were saved for a returning soldier - 2nd Lt. William McKinney, detachment commander. He gave tribute to Vietnam veterans before dismissing his unit.

"There's no way to express the feeling we had when we saw all the people here today. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," said McKinney. "About 20 years ago, we had people coming home from a six-month tour, exactly like we did from some foreign country. I just wish they could all have something like this for themselves."

The 1138th MPs from Doniphan and West Plains were in Saudi Arabia for 141-days. Most were spent guarding Iraqi prisoners of war at the 301st Enemy Prisoner of War Camp at Hafir-Al-Batin in northern Saudi Arabia. The camp was about 45 miles from the Iraq border and received the first prisoners captured during the war. At its peak, nearly 16,000 prisoners were housed there.

Initially assigned to Uma Satik after arriving on Dec. 3, they later were moved to King Khalid Military City.

During the waiting period before Operation Desert Shield developed into Desert Storm, the 1138th MPs guarded warehouses, doing odd jobs and escorting some shipments.

"I feel like I know that country pretty well," said Sgt. 1st Class Harold Williams of Doniphan, a member of the Guard unit for 33 years. "We went from one end of it to another."

Williams said the 1138th encountered few problems while often working six days a week guarding and receiving prisoners.

"I don't think we even had a broken bone and normally with that many people you expect that to happen," he said.

"We were there quite a bit longer than Panama, but basically we did the same things," said Williams.

"The camp we had was pretty quiet," said Spc. Edward R. Murphey of Doniphan. "Another camp next to us had problems but none of that happened there. Off and on I guess we did a pretty good job."

"Those people (Iraqis) weren't mean; they just wanted to go home," said Murphey. "They wanted all this to be over with. You couldn't help but feel for them a little bit but then again they probably would kill you at the drop of a dime."

"I'd like to tell everybody that when you go to a country like that and see it for a while, you've got something here to be proud of," said Williams. "We've got a great country."

"The Guard's been good to me," said Murphey. "People say those who join the National Guard don't get see anything but they are wrong. Join the National Guard and see the world."

Murphey's plans upon getting home were simple.

"I think I'll take a bath and just relax," he said.

April 30 was Christmas Day at the home of Wayne and Carol Grisham in Naylor. Presents still were waiting under the tree for their 20-year-old son Tom, Carol Grisham said.

"He requested barbequed pork steak, so that's what we're having," she said. "I even baked a couple of pumpkin pies."

Dennis Smith, president of the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce, said a Christmas party for soldiers and families is being planned within 45-60 days.