Two Green Country Soldiers Return Home From Middle East

Green Country soldiers returned to the home front Sunday, back in the arms of their families after months spent fighting in the Middle East.

Sunday, November 13th 2011, 10:51 pm

By: News On 6


Green Country soldiers returned to the homefront Sunday evening, back in the arms of their families after months spent fighting in the Middle East.

The soldiers are part of Oklahoma's 45th Infantry.

Chief Warrant Officer John Huntington's arms are outstretched, waiting for that first hug from his wife, then from his daughter, even strangers.

After serving in Baghdad, he's anxious to get back to Bartlesville, where he'll be back for good.

"I'm going to go home and spend time with my family," Huntington said.

Specialist Nash Lindley will be home to spend a big day with his son, Treyton.

"Yeah on the 15th he's going to turn two, so I got really lucky to be able to come in like this," Lindley said.

The Tahlequah native also gets to spend two weeks at home with his wife Courtney.

"It was really exciting. I had butterflies in my belly. I've had them in there for months," Courtney said.

Specialist Lindley said each handshake or hug is worth the several months he spent serving in Kuwait.

"For me, it seems like there's not a whole bunch of people over here that remember we're still over there, because it's been such a long conflict," Lindley said.

American troops have spent 10 years fighting the ongoing wars in the Middle East. This summer, Oklahoma paid the price for our freedom, with 14 military men and women dying for their country.

"It's kind of sad because we've had the 14 Oklahoma fellow Thunderbirds that we've lost over there. And I think it's really sad that it has to come down to losing our brothers and sisters for people to actually remember us over there still," Lindley said.

A heavy burden for Specialist Lindley and his fellow troops, one that gives Thanksgiving a new meaning at the Lindley house.

"Just that we have our hero home," Courtney said.

Specialist Lindley joked he owes the world to the people who invented video chat, because it's a great way to keep in touch with his son Treyton. He said each time, Treyton pushes his face up against the computer screen, trying to get as close as possible to his daddy.

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