Hundreds of students at Moorhead's St. Joseph's School gave a hardy welcome home Friday to a pair of soldiers returning from military duty overseas.
Lt. Commander Joan Lerdahl was deployed by the Navy to Kuwait in March, while Lt. Trevor Ritland worked with an Army Special Forces team to eliminate explosive devices encountered by soldiers in Iraq.
"It's been quite a ride over in Iraq, but it's definitely nice to be back home," said Ritland, a former St. Joseph's student and the son of the school's principal, Valerie Ritland.
Ritland, who will be returning to Iraq in the spring, said it might sound funny, but he's looking forward to returning to the war zone. He said the people he works with, both his fellow soldiers and the people of Iraq, "are very special," and he feels the American presence there is having a positive effect.
Lerdahl's mission in northern Kuwait was to train U.S. military personnel who would then go on to train Iraqis in the area of supply logistics.
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The mother of three young children said she was touched by Friday's welcome.
"Thank you for keeping us in your hearts and your prayers," she told the children gathered in the school's gymnasium.
