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Wednesday's Internet Edition, January 07, 2009.
A happy homecoming
A special Memorial Day for soldier Prewett and family
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A large banner hangs on the front of the home of Tiffany and Gary Lundy, welcoming their nephew, John Prewett, home.
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By Gwen Stevenson
Staff Writer
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It was a joyous weekend reunion for the family of Galt High School graduate John Prewett who returned last week from serving with the Air Force in Iraq, and it made this particular Memorial Day unforgettable.
“I am overwhelmed by the support of my family and friends throughout my deployment and return home,” said Prewett.
A1C John Prewett, a 2005 Galt High School graduate, was deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq on a base defense mission in a joint service relationship between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force.
He was part of the 42nd Military Police Brigade assigned to the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron under the command of Lisette D. Childers, Lt. Col., USAF Commander, 586 ESFS.
Prewett was also attached to the 1-179th Infantry Battalion.
“My mission was interior and exterior combat patrols of FOB (Forward Operating Base) Bucca,” said Prewett. “These combat patrols secured 22,000 detainees and 6,000 coalition forces.”
He was able to have a lot of success in his mission overseas.
“Outside the wire, we found a crashed British UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle),” said Prewett. “It saved coalition forces up to $5,000.”
John’s aunt and uncle, Tiffany and Gary Lundy, hosted the gathering at their home on Sunday.
“We’re so very proud of Johnny,” said Tiffany. “It makes this Memorial Day so much more special.”
The family would like to thank the VFW of Galt for the incredible job of placing the flags up and down the street, especially on such a busy Memorial Day weekend.
Four generations were represented at the barbeque, including a great-grandma, grandparents, and parents, as well as, aunts and uncles, and many other family and friends.
“We have always been proud of him and his accomplishments in the Air Force over in Iraq,” said John’s grandma Alice and grandpa Bill Baumbach. “We know that he’ll continue to excel and do very well in whatever he chooses to do.”
Prewett will be home for about eight months to rest and regroup. He is home just in time to see his younger brother Sean graduate from GHS.
John’s parents, Christina and Scott Carter, are grateful for all of the soldiers who are serving in Iraq.
“We want to say thank you to all of them; it’s a true sacrifice they are making,” said Christina, “… and to those who have soldiers still over there and are waiting for them to come home, our prayers are with them.”
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