Not long after he came home from his second tour of duty in Iraq, Army Sgt. Benjamin Weber of Leelanau County was experiencing what many Leelanau residents have experienced in recent weeks – a nasty head cold.

Jennifer Oakley, Sgt. Benjamin Weber's mother,
gives him a big hug upon his arrival home. Local
veterans and friends (bottom) bearing American
flags lined up at Cherry Capital Airport to welcome
home Weber earlier this month.
(photos by Cory Weber)

Nonetheless, Weber was able to show up at a Leland basketball game Saturday night to watch his old classmate from the Traverse City Christian School – Marcus Whittaker – in action.

“Marcus and Galen Whittaker and I are pretty good friends. Actually, I once broke Marcus’s arm accidentally in a football game back in the day,” Weber said.

Weber knows all about injuries. During his first tour in Iraq, Weber was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he sustained in combat. He also earned a Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for valor in battle.

Weber, 21, returned to Leelanau County on Feb. 2 following a rousing welcome from friends and family at Cherry Capital Airport. His father is David C. Weber of Lake Leelanau.

His mother, Elmwood Township resident Jennifer Oakley, said that Feb. 2 was one of the best days of her entire life.

“I ached to see that cherished face again, my boy who went off to war 15 long months ago,” Oakley said. “His face, now chiseled by months of wind, sand, shrapnel and hardship, is redefined and cherished that much more … I am so proud of him.”

Since his homecoming, Weber says he has spent time visiting with family and friends.

“I also had a lot of business to take care of,” Weber said, “like getting my drivers’ license renewed and getting my truck re-registered.”

Weber said he plans to drive his truck back to his unit’s home base, Fort Hood, Texas, later this month.

As for the war in Iraq, Weber said he believes things have been improving there.

“There are just so many factors that go into making a country stable,” Weber said. “But on my latest tour, things got a little quieter where I was – and that’s good.”

His unit was based just north of Baghdad. Weber said he expects his unit could redeploy from Fort Hood to Iraq again as soon as February 2009.

Sgt. Weber said he has been sleeping well since his return – but his thoughts often turn to comrades who did not return.

“I’m just very fortunate to be here,” Weber said. “Sometimes, I think about the guys who didn’t come home…”