They spent 400 days serving overseas away from home. Here in Central Oregon friends and family waited for their return. And today (Wednesday), the suspense was finally over. 16 local National Guard soldiers came back home today. The air as filled with excitement and expectation, and the troops opened the terminal doors and walked in to a huge cheering crowd. Taylor Salmons of Redmond was greeting by his fiancée, Elizableth: “I’m happy to get back. I’m ready to get my life back on line, after taking a year off.” Taylor wants to start building a car and then he will report back to military training in December. And the homecoming triggered memories for Ron Clemons of Madras: “Just welcoming home the troops. We weren’t afforded that opportunity when we came home.” Patrick Johnstead has planned a special surprise for his mother: “They don’t know I’m here. I’m going to surprise them, show up in a police car, to see they’re reaction. “ 16 soldiers are from the 3rd battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade. The National Guard soldiers were in Iraq for 400 days to help stabilize the country. They served as "convoy security" for products that needed to be safely transported throughout the country.
