Soldier Looking To Reconnect With Family

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- After they make it through the welcome home ceremony, the soldiers must fit back into everyday life.  Jared Litterell just returned home to Tulsa after his second tour of duty in Iraq.  He says after spending so much time overseas, he is looking forward to some much-needed time off.

Litterell was among the several hundred members of the 45th honored on Wednesday at Southern Nazarene University.  The soldiers walked into the arena amidst cheers from flag-waving friends and family.  Then, came the long-awaited hug with his wife, Jessica, and his parents.

"Wonderful. It was the most exciting feeling to see him walk through that door yesterday," said Jared's mother, Linda Litterell.

"Honestly, it didn't even hit me I was home until I stepped through that door and just saw all those people," said 45^th Infantry Combat Spc. Jared Litterell.

The entire family was back in Tulsa on Thursday, and Jared shared pictures from Iraq.

He spent most of his time there working in personal security detail, basically getting people where they need to go.  Meanwhile, his family waited anxiously for his return.

"Getting hard there for a little bit you know.  You get used to having somebody here with you and, all of a sudden, you're alone and worrying if something is going to happen to him over there," said Jared's wife, Jessica.

"This one was rough on us.  It was the roughest deployment we've been through. Not knowing where he was.  Not knowing what he was doing," said Jared's father, Bill Litterell.

But now that Jared is home safely, he plans on making up for lost time.  He has the next month and a half off, and he will spend all of it with his wife and family.

"You don't really realize it, but life goes on back here.  Life goes on for you back here.  It's just one of those get to know each other again," said 45^th Infantry Combat Spc. Jared Litterell.

Jared does not expect to head back to Iraq for a third tour anytime soon.  The rest of the 45th's 2,600 members are still at Fort Bliss in Texas.

They will be returning to Oklahoma over the next week.