Hero#039;s escort brings soldier home at last

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 3, 2005

HANGING ROCK - Welcome home, native son, welcome home, returning soldier.

That was the obvious message Monday evening when Lawrence County rolled out a hero's welcome for U.S. Army Field Artillery Specialist

Brandon McFann. The Pedro native was injured in a roadside bomb explosion in Tarmiyah Feb. 26.

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He is the only Lawrence Countian thus far to be injured in the war.

McFann was honored with a police, fire and ambulance escort when the car he was riding in crossed the Lawrence- Scioto line. People stood at various points along his travel route to cheer his arrival. Then family, friends and well-wishers waited for him at a celebration at the Laidback bar in Hanging Rock.

Bruce Dixon, captain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8850 Honor Guard, said it was only right to honor the returning McFann.

"We don't do this enough," he said. "Back during World War II, when a man came home from the war, he came home wearing his uniform and people bent over backwards to welcome him. Nowadays we don't.

The VFW Honor Guard lined up in formation outside the bar and saluted McFann as he walked in the door. Other VFW members were nearby, their neatly pressed caps in place, symbolizing their own commitment to their country years ago.

The young man at the center of all the attention said he was a bit surprised at the homecoming. "I think it's a little overdone," he said.

Asked how he felt, he replied he was "recovering well."

He had been in Iraq four days when he was injured. He suffered wounds to his face, legs, right arm, right ear and right eye.

There were hugs and kisses as Brandon McFann pressed through the crowd. "I'm happy he's home," his mother, Leah McFann said. "He's a very unassuming young man, as you can tell. He's great. We're very proud of him. He's a good soldier, a great guy."

His father, Lee McFann, said he hopes his son will "take it easy and lay around" during his 30-day leave.

McFann's parents, while happy to have their child home, still must have fear lurking in the backs of their minds:

Their daughter, Amanda McCormick and her husband, Todd are still serving in Iraq. Another son, Jeremiah, is in Fort Knox, Ky., preparing to leave for the Middle East (another son, Matthew, and daughter, Megan, are still at home).

After his 30 days at home, Brandon McFann said he will likely undergo additional medical treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., before returning to duty at Fort Riley, Kan., in a couple of months.

Rhonda Robinson was among those who came to celebrate McFann's homecoming.

"Everyone should appreciate him and appreciate the ones still there," she said. "Keep them in your prayers. That's what they need, really. Just remember all of them, not just this one but all of them. They all came from somewhere."