Spc. Casey Markwell, 19, a scout with the reconnaissance unit of the Idaho National Guard based in Hailey, returned home Monday for a two-week leave from Kirkuk, Iraq. He is the first member from his unit that departed last November to come home on leave. Markwell and his fellow soldiers in the Idaho National Guard are serving with the Army's 82nd Engineers.
"I am glad to be home. I miss home," Markwell said, after his mother, Brenda, hugged and kissed him as he stepped out of the plane at Friedman Memorial Airport. She just happens to work for SkyWest Airlines and pushed a luggage cart out on the tarmac to collect her son's duffel bag from the aircraft before she escorted him into the terminal.
Markwell was one of the last passengers off the plane. Family and friends worried momentarily that he missed his connection in Salt Lake City.
"There he is. He looked so much younger when he left," joked Caron McNamara, as an older gentleman exited the plane. McNamara is a family friend and a Delta Airlines flight attendant, who brought her dog J.J. to greet Markwell.
Following the "false alarm," Markwell appeared dressed in his camouflage uniform.
His sister, Rebecca, popped with excitement, her jaw dropping like she had just seen a porpoise leap out of the water as she saw her brother step out of the plane in his fatigues. Markwell's former baby sitter Kelly Schilling also greeted the Guardsman.
When asked how he felt about the homecoming, Markwell's brother Tyler flashed a big smile and gave a silent thumbs up.
Markwell had been in transit for nearly a day traveling from a debriefing in Kuwait via Ireland, Dallas and Salt Lake City before landing in Hailey for his break from conducting mounted patrols from a Humvee.
Markwell said he has enjoyed serving with other guys from Idaho, but they will not be on leave together.
When asked about his mission in Iraq, Markwell responded, "We're trying to win the hearts and minds ... it's going."
Markwell's duffel—which he carried in addition to a backpack and briefcase—was heavy. Tyler lifted it with pride and struggled with McNamara to carry it to the car as Markwell's stepfather, Joey Jarmillo, handed the soldier a bottle and a package of Swisher Sweets to celebrate his return.
"They held the road from Kirkuk to Baghdad for 28 days with no showers," Jarmillo said, explaining that his stepson joined the National Guard to support his country and to earn benefits for his education. Markwell wants to become a pilot.
Markwell's Humvee is decorated with stickers from local restaurants such as KBs, Lefty's, and The Red Elephant. His uniform is already decorated with several combat patches.
Markwell said although other members of the Hailey scout platoon will be coming home separately, he will be back in Iraq before most of them arrive.
"Leave starts ... midnight tonight," he said.
Markwell was already running around town on Tuesday, his aunt said. She expected that the family would be due for an afternoon nap, as the excitement of Markwell's return turned to exhaustion after the first day of his leave.
Spc. Casey Markwell and his stepfather Joey Jarmillo catch up on family time as the Hailey National Guard scout arrives for a two-week leave from combat duty in Iraq. Photo by David N. Seelig
