Nearly 50 Valley soldiers return home from Iraq

WESLACO – Zoe Amanda Garza wiped tears of joy away as she described why she ran to her father as if her life counted on it.

“I was running like a killer was following me,” Garza, of La Feria, said. “He’s my dad. I haven’t hugged him in forever.”

Like her beaming mother and giddy brother, the 22-year-old Garza could barely tear her eyes away from her father, Sgt. Frank Garza, who returned home on Sunday from a year-long deployment in Iraq with the Texas National Guard.

A boisterous crowd of family and friends welcomed the elder Garza and nearly 50 other members of the 141st Infantry Regiment’s 3rd Battalion at a homecoming ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Weslaco.

“It’s always hard being away,” said Frank Garza. “I’m happy, excited and can’t wait to barbecue today. I love doing that and missed that and my wife’s home-cooking.”

He and his fellow soldiers enjoyed a paparazzi treatment of cameras and phones snapping photographic proof of their return. Despite the overwhelmed children crying in their arms and the joyful throngs surrounding them, the Guardsmen kept their composure and looked like they were taking their first breaths of fresh air after their work in Camp Adder, Iraq.

Finishing his first overseas deployment, Specialist Gilbert San Pedro said he didn’t expect the struggle he had after saying goodbye to girlfriend Irene Rodriguez.

“It was horrible,” San Pedro, 26, said. “I was pretty nervous today, to be honest. She’s exactly as beautiful as I remember.

“Maybe she’ll get me alone after the Cowboys’ game tonight,” he added.

Before their embraces, the families fidgeted in the hot sun with homemade t-shirts and American flags as a motorcade of veterans and police on motorcycles ushered the soldiers’ bus toward the armory.

Linda Ramirez, wife of Staff Sgt. Orlando Ramirez, said this day kept her going during the year of her husband’s absence.

“There are so many times when it’s tough to deal,” she said. “Reminding yourself of this day is the only way to get through it. It’s the goal I thought of when I had to tuck the kids in alone that first night.”

One bit of consolation that Ramirez and many at the ceremony mentioned was Skype and other online communication tools.

“It’s different opening Christmas presents in front of the computer,” said Ramirez. “But you have to get used to it because it truly breaks the void. It made us feel better every day.”

The Garzas also said video messaging was a blessing in making the days bearable.

“His voice and face were so far away but right in front of us,” said mother Noemi Garza. “He’d see us and make us laugh but then ask for the dog, his ‘grandbaby.’”

Aside from her husband’s physical presence Sunday, Noemi Garza said the crowd of over 100 moved her to tears first.

As she waited to cheer the motorcade, she said a lone woman introduced herself.

“She had no one in the service,” Noemi Garza said. “She just wanted to support our troops. That was the best part.

“Knowing there’s a community for Frank, for us…that’s why I first cried,” she said.

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 Neal Morton covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956)314-0896.