Homecoming for Reservist back from second tour in Iraq

By KERANA TODOROV
Register Staff Writer

After months in Iraq, David Miller is resuming his civilian life in American Canyon, trading camouflage for civilian clothes.

Two weeks ago, American Canyon Troop Support’s Sindy Biederman and the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of volunteers, organized welcome home festivities at Sacramento International Airport and at Miller’s home in American Canyon — to Miller’s surprise and the delight of his family.

American Canyon City Manager Rich Ramirez was among the two dozen people who greeted Miller in Sacramento Nov. 23, while Mayor Leon Garcia and others welcomed him at the Miller house in American Canyon. American Canyon police officers and firefighters escorted him once their car reached the city limits.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” said Miller, a U.S. Army Reserve staff sergeant, who was returning home with two dozen members of the 304th Psychological Operations after a nine-month tour of duty in Iraq — his second.

Miller, who left in February, is scheduled to return to work Monday for the city of American Canyon’s Public Works Department, where he is an engineering technician.

“It’s good to be back,” he said Tuesday as he received “Welcome Home” greetings Tuesday from American Canyon Police Chief Brian Banducci, Fire Chief Glen Weeks and others.

His family, including his wife, Marbeth and two daughters, Kaitlin, 8, and Kandy, 6, are thrilled.

The girls missed their father, Marbeth said, adding Kaitlin broke down in class when the father of a classmate at Donaldson Way Elementary School visited the class after he returned home from war.

“It was hard,” Marbeth said.

To protect the girls, who often asked for their father, she tuned out the TV news and enrolled them in after-school activities, including figure skating.

The community was very supportive, Marbeth said.

Eva Garcia, the mayor’s wife, coached the girls in hula dancing. A neighbor picked up the girls from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley when Marbeth’s shift kept her late in Sonoma. Neighbors also helped her take out the garbage.

David Miller, 39, said he lost track of time in Iraq, where he worked seven days a week. Summer temperatures reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, making it hard to breathe, Miller said. On the plus side, there was plenty of free Gatorade. He would drink up to six liters a day, he said.

He and others shared care packages. He recorded images from Iraq via his webcam and transmitted them via the Internet. He and fellow soldiers chipped in for an $80- a-month connection, though Internet service was slow.

He also called home.

David Miller could not discuss what was going on in Iraq, and the 15-minute phone calls focused on the girls and home, the Millers said.

Marbeth, who went to work part time while she was a single parent, now plans to work full-time again.

The Millers also look forward to attending their daughters’ activities, including ice skating performances. David said he likes to help his daughters do their homework, though they say they can do it on their own.

David is also a reserve firefighter with the American Canyon Fire Protection District and said he has had no trouble re-adjusting.

He re-enlisted in July, though he hopes he won’t have to go for a third tour of duty before he retires from the Army six years from now.

On Friday, Biederman and American Canyon resident Al Donaldson, both of whom are  Patriot Guard Riders, said every soldier should have a welcome home. “We owe them at least that,” Biederman said.

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