Soldier receives grand homecoming surprise
By Julie Mullen For The Courier-News January 29, 2012 5:16PM
A convoy of military and municipal vehicles returned U.S. Army Spc. Elliott James Turnbaugh home to a crowd of friends and family in West Dundee on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Turnbaugh, who spent a year in Afghanistan, was completely surprised by the welcome-home festivities. | Michele du Vair~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:24AM
WEST DUNDEE — As a child, Elliott Turnbaugh always put his hand over his heart when he sang the national anthem and would thank any soldier he’d happen upon.
On Sunday, it was Turnbaugh who was being shown the gratitude, as the 20-year-old was surprised with a welcome home party to mark his return from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., a caravan of two dozen cars and emergency vehicles paraded through the village’s downtown, carrying the West Dundee native to a surprise party in his honor.
“I never expected anything like this,” Elliott said. “It’s just unbelievable.”
Elliott’s parents, Paul and Sharon Turnbaugh, contacted Warriors’ Watch Riders for the northern Illinois region in December to let them know their son was coming home.
The organization — a motorcycle group that welcomes home and thanks soldiers upon their return from active duty overseas — insisted a simple handshake wouldn’t do.
After first being surprised at the Army Recruiting Station along Randall Road in Carpentersville, the U.S. Army specialist was escorted to VFW Post No. 2298.
There, more than 100 family members and friends were awaiting his arrival, with American flags in their hands.
“I almost lost it a couple of times,” Elliott said about his flood of emotions during the event.
A special pact
Elliott said his longing to join the military weighed on him, right up until the time he was due to leave for college.
He enlisted, following his dream of joining the Army Infantry.
Elliott went to basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed jump school before being stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.
He was deployed to Afghanistan one year ago, serving as an infantryman with a unit dubbed the “Ramrods.”
Elliott will be home in West Dundee for two weeks before returning to Ft. Knox, where he’ll be stationed until next year. After the Army, he plans to attend college to become a firefighter and paramedic.
Paul Turnbaugh says his son is a “true patriot” and joined the military for all the right reasons.
His mother, Sharon, said that she’s glad her son is home, but knew his mission helped others. She even learned he saved a life of another soldier in Afghanistan.
“I knew he was in harm’s way ... and it was almost better when we didn’t know what he was doing,” she said. “Now, I just have an enormous sense of pride.”
Sharon, who was diagnosed with a a treatable form of ovarian cancer two months before Elliott was deployed, said they had made a pact.
“I told him, we both have our battles to fight,” Sharon said with tears in her eyes. “Now, it’s one year later. … I’m clear, and he’s back home safely with us.”
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