60 MN Soldiers Welcomed Home, Many With Purple Hearts

ARDEN HILLS (WCCO) -- After a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, Minnesota soldiers of the 309th Engineer Company arrived in Arden Hills Friday afternoon to friends and family. Many of them are also bringing something special back: the Purple Heart.

Few family members could keep tears from their eyes as they welcomed home their loved ones who've been in harm's way for an entire year.

"It's just a mom having her kid home and safe. It's what it is," said Jeri Joslin, who greeted her son home.

Sixty members of the 309th Engineer Company are now veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

"It's an overwhelming feeling, I guess. It feels great," said Bradley Geyer, who is a returning soldier.

Making it home from war is an accomplishment in its own right.

"They did not have a single loss from Brainerd's company," said Lt. Col. Eric Larson, commander of the 309th Engineer Company.

Lt. Col. Eric Larson said that fact is even more of an accomplishment, considering the soldiers were stationed in Southern Afghanistan and their mission was to remove IEDs.

"The last thought on my mind when I went to sleep and the first thought on my mind when I woke up, was this company. I knew the mission they were doing and I knew how dangerous it was," said Lt. Col. Larson.

As they greeted family, the smiles on the soldiers' faces no longer showed the stress of the mission or the cost it carried.

"Just a concussion, bad enough where you couldn't really walk straight," said soldier Jeff Treager.

Blasts from the IEDs did not take any limbs, but many share the same injury as specialist Treager.

Because of their sacrifice, 50 percent of the 124 member company will now have a purple heart.

"Still, you're damaging your brain. You're still worthy of a purple heart, I see anyways," said Treager.

"I had faith in God and I knew he'd take care of him. I knew he would," said Treager's mother, Wendy.

No one knows that better than a military family, but these families can't help but think of their blessings.

"It's just such a relief, such a relief," said Joslin.

Larson said the majority of the Purple Hearts have already been handed out. Soldiers who haven't gotten theirs will receive it at an official welcome home ceremony in Brainerd.