Army veteran returns to Millersburg with a Purple Heart

A peaceful, easy feeling prevailed this week at the home of Fritz and Cozy Rhein, as their son Adam returned from a second Army tour of Iraq. His children were equally as excited to see their father return, since they hadn?t seen him in more than a year.

Staff Sgt. Rhein, a 1993 Onaway High School graduate, and a veteran Army serviceman, drove from Savannah, Georgia to Millersburg over the weekend after visiting with his wife Angela in their current hometown.

The couple?s children, however, were in Millersburg with their grandparents. They knew he was coming and didn?t get much sleep from Sunday night to Monday morning. Rhein also kept them in suspense by waiting to call until he was within a few miles. Adam?s sisters were there as well. Nichelle Chimner drove from Chicago to be there, while Niki drove from Alpena.

THE FAMILY made an American flag with the words, ?Welcome home Adam,? on it and mounted it on a fence so he would see it when he pulled in the driveway.

Everyone was naturally excited to see him, a feeling which was not lost in the coming days. Rhein?s youngest children were not far from his side, literally, as they clung to their dad and were not going to let him out of their sight.

Adam?s youngest son, Tristan said he missed his dad, ?a lot,? before burying his face deep in Rhein?s side. Fritz said Tristan kept reminding him about the welcome home cake he wanted to make for his dad, and they baked it and had it ready.

?We all missed him a lot,? said Fritz. ?I just missed having him here,? said Tracy, 13, Rhein?s oldest son, ?he?s a lot fun to hang out with.?

RHEIN SERVED with Alpha Company, I-64, Armored Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. His first tour to Iraq was a year beginning January 1, 2005. The second was longer, starting in May 2007, and not wrapping up until July 7.

Most of his time was spent in Baghdad, and it wasn?t without incident as Rhein was injured in November and given a Purple Heart. He didn?t bring the medal with him, but brought the certificate that accompanied it to show his parents.

During the investigation of a murdered Iraqi, weapons and bomb making material were found, which resulted in 15 individuals being detained.

In addition, a Suburban was found to be loaded with homemade explosives. The unit in charged with disposing explosives was called to the scene.

?IN THE PROCESS, it blew up,? said Rhein, who was only 15 feet away. ?I had a traumatic brain injury, a pretty bad concussion, I also took some shrapnel to my legs and arms,? he said Wednesday. ?We suspect that there were at least two 155-milimeter rounds in the frame of the truck. It sent debris over two blocks away. All I remember is being lifted off my feet and was knocked unconscious. When I came to, I looked around to see if anyone else was injured.?

He still has headaches from the incident, ?a lot of post-concussion symptoms. The Army is taking care of me. They have great doctors, so when I get off leave I?ll be going to see a neurologist to see the actual extent of the injury.?

According to the investigation, the vehicle contained homemade explosives and the target was coalition and the Iraqi Army forces. There were no fatalities in the blast. Rhein also received the Bronze Star for serving in Iraq, as wel as a Combat Infantry badge. His next assignment will be as a drill instructor at Fort Benning. He?ll be the officer yelling in the face of new recruits at boot camp, and looks forward to turning civilians into soldiers.

Rhein loaded up the children Thursday morning

and they started long trip back to Savannah. His children are looking forward to seeing their mother, who they haven?t seen for six weeks. Adam and Angela love Harley Davidson motorcycles and as a gift to his wife, he purchased her a new motorcycle.

?She has the hardest job in the world,? said Rhein. ?She has to take care of everything while I?m deployed. She has to take care of the house, kids and the vehicles. Her job is substantially harder than mine. A lot of time spouses don?t get credit for all of the things they have to do. My job is to come back, and bring my men back. She has a lot harder job.?

Rhein?s grand parents are George and Ketto Kimball of Millersburg. The career military man has five years left to go until he can retire.

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