By David Spunt Reporter
News 3 On Your Side
75 soldiers from the Alabama National Guard in Eufaula are home after spending a year in Iraq.News 3 On Your Side
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Stumble It!The reunion with family and friends happened Friday morning in Eufaula.
After 42 years of serving his country one member of the guard unit who returned home today has decided to put his boots away for the last time.
It looked like a presidential motorcade making its way through downtown Eufaula.
“I am going to give my husband the biggest kiss that he's had in the 38 years we've been married,” Linda Coates, an Army wife said.
Linda Coates knows all too well the challenges with a deployment.
Her husband, Master Sgt. Roger Coates has been with the Alabama National Guard since 1966.
This time was a little different; it would be Roger's last deployment.
“It's good to be home, sweet home Alabama, good support, we've had here in Eufaula, it's been great,” he said.
Coates says seeing his family was amazing, but the bigger surprise was yet to come.
Linda Coates surprised her husband with his Army National Guard retirement certificate.
“Going through the paperwork back at fort hood, I knew the date was up, but it was a very pleasing surprise, very nice,” he said.
And after almost half a century of that dedication, Roger Coates has one thing on his mind.
“I might work another year, but after that, like I said crank up the motor home and enjoy the USA,” he said.
Coates says he'll miss spending time with his comrades in the National Guard.
He's now setting his sights on his family and the new grandson that he's expecting in a few weeks.