By Carolyn Lee
    The Imperial Republican
     Three familiar faces stepped off the airplane that carried 150 members of the Nebraska Army National Guard's 1074th Transportation Company to North Platte from Iraq last Friday.
     Eldon Kuntzelman, Justin Westfahl and Trevor Courter had just spent a year in Iraq at al-Taqaddum Air Base, about 60 miles west of Baghdad.
     Although they served together, providing security for convoys around the country, the three men are very different. They reacted to their homecoming parade differently, as well.
     Eldon Kuntzelman was very appreciative of the public's support.
     "It meant a lot to all of us to see those people there. Of course, I was anxious to depart and go with my family," he said.
     Justin Westfahl was sitting in the back of a bus as it approached Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, where the soldiers were to meet their families. He waved out the window and thought, "Wow. There are so many people looking at me."
     He said he couldn't take two steps without people thanking him. He felt a little embarassed that he had spent most of his duty on base in office jobs.
     Trevor Courter said the parade and festivities last Friday "didn't really hit me too hard. I got a warm, tingly feeling, though."
     Courter doesn't like attention, but he appreciated all of the people who welcomed the 1074th home.
     Courter, who has applied to join the airborne unit in Seward, is with the Third Platoon out of Sidney. Westfahl is with Headquarters in North Platte.
     Kuntzelman has been called to duty for the National Guard four times. The Sargent First Class is a member of the Det. 2 1074th Medium Truck Company of Ogallala.
     He reached his 20th year of service with the National Guard while in Iraq, and "reupped" on Sept. 28, just days before returning to the United States.
     "I'm just not ready to walk away. I enjoy what I'm doing," he stated.
     Kuntzelman served in Schweinfurt, Germany in 2002, and then at Fort Riley, Kan. in 2002-03. Both times he provided force protection and gate security.
     This time, he oversaw 39 soldiers (gunners, drivers and truck commanders) in convoy escort, providing security for civilians and army trucks that transfer fuel, food and commodities to new bases.
     His obligations were in the rear, attending meetings, so he didn't run all missions. "I filled in on convoys for people on leave." After 44 missions, "I wanted to do more but the opportunity didn't come up."
     On one mission, Kuntzelman said his convoy was fired upon.
     Most of his missions were at night, so he didn't have the opportunity to see the country in daylight. It was pretty run down, the soldier said, from the first days of the war. "The country is in need of somebody's help."
     Kuntzelman said he didn't feel any more unsafe or uncomfortable in Iraq than in any other country.
     "I prayed for their (soldiers') safety every day. We were there longer, and there were people who wanted to hurt us," he said.
     On the other hand, when soldiers performed CME missions, taking coloring books, candy and other items received in the mail out to Iraqis, he could see the delight on their faces.
     The U.S.'s presence in Iraq is worthwhile, Kuntzelman said. He wants to make it very clear that Iraqi civilians are very glad the military is there, "contrary to what you hear."
     He added that many other countries are providing support to the U.S., through serving food, policing the base, and cleaning bases.
     The recent surge of soldiers ordered by President Bush "was the best thing to happen to the soldiers there. It made a tremendous impact in our area."
     Kuntzelman said because of the surge, soldiers found more manufacturing plants of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devises), caches of weapons and insurgents, and were able to establish more military camps.
     Left behind when Kuntzelman was sent to Iraq were wife Becky, six children and three granddaughters. While he was in the Middle East, grandson Skyler Parks was born. He began walking before Kuntzelman returned.
     He missed his family most, and the church life he had. Now, before he returns to work at Lamar Fertilizer, he's taking a few weeks of leave to visit granddaughters in South Carolina, parents in Fremont and a sister on the East Coast.
     He also needs to spend time with Becky. She was nervous while he was stationed in Iraq, he said, and now it's "almost like dating again."
     Westfahl and Courter are as different as night and day, but they share a lot of history. Both are 2006 Chase County Schools classmates and graduates. Both ended up in Iraq shortly after graduation. Both are planning to attend Central Community College in Hastings in January.
     Westfahl is wiry, fast-talking and likes to be out doing things, traveling, talking to people. Courter is quiet, thinking before speaking, more of an introvert.
     They appreciated each others' presence in Iraq, however. Westfahl said he had Courter and one other friend at camp.
     "I didn't make many friends because they were doing their own thing," he declared.
     Private First Class Westfahl eventually had three jobs at the base, which is located just outside the city of Habbaniyak. First, he was assistant armer, filling in for the armer, who keeps track of ammunition and sees that weapons are in working order.
     Then, he was a training assistant in the operations section, developing schedules. Lastly, he was a supply clerk, ordering and updating supplies.
     Westfahl was in camp a lot, but did run two missions, during one of which he was fired upon.
     "When I was shot at, it all happended so quick that I never was really scared. My first reaction was 'Oh, great.' I asked my commander what to do."
     Courter, on the other hand, was a gunner on 87 missions. He was protecting convoys that ran into roadside bombs. He was fired upon, and shot back.
     Specialist Courter was a gunner on Humvees and Armoured Security Vehicles. He would provide security escort for tankers and contractors, taking them from camp to camp.
     Stolidly, Courter explained that he didn't feel danger. "You go by muscle memory. You have been taught what to do." There are a lot of rules to go by, he explained. A soldier can't fire unless he sees a muzzle flash or a person actually shooting.
     Neither soldier was wounded while on duty.
     Courter said he "actually kind of misses it. I was used to being told what to do." He also misses the adrenaline high many soldiers in combat experience.
     Westfahl said he didn't experience the high combat soldiers do, but his job was stressful. He said, after a pause, that he might do it all over again. Courter said he most probably would.
     Westfahl missed his independence while on active duty. He also missed being able to drive his own vehicle.
     Courter missed his family and friends. He also missed not being able to go to college. He had actually been enrolled at Southeast Community College in Lincoln and was packing for school when he was informed he was leaving for Iraq.
     He said he missed a lot by going straight from high school to boot camp to war.
     If there was a bonus about serving in Iraq, Courter found one. His brother Thomas, a corporal with the 2nd Supply NB Maintenance Company, was transferred to al-Taqaddum Air Base last month. He still has over six months to serve.
     Is the U.S. making a difference in Iraq? Courter said "I think we're doing a lot." He saw less IEDs on the roads at the end of his tour than at the beginning. He also saw more children playing soccer or going to school.
     Westfahl noted that of the Iraqi citizens, "The only form of education they have is their leader." What the leader says is law. "Our building schools and the ability to learn for themselves will help in the end."
     The two young men had other things on their minds Monday, however. They were headed to McCook. Courter needed new clothes, as he's grown some, and Westfahl needed a cell phone, to keep in touch.