Injured Oklahoma US Marine home from Iraq

An Oklahoma US Marine is recovering at home with his family. Lance Corporal Brent Montgomery was shot in the leg by a sniper last week in Iraq. <br><br>During that battle, insurgents killed five of his

Monday, April 26th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

An Oklahoma US Marine is recovering at home with his family. Lance Corporal Brent Montgomery was shot in the leg by a sniper last week in Iraq.

During that battle, insurgents killed five of his fellow Marines. News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger was at the airport as family and friends welcomed him home.

"My heart is beating so hard." Johnita Smith can hardly focus on our interview, knowing in just a few minutes her boyfriend Lance Corporal Brent Montgomery will be coming down the airport concourse. Friends and family including grandma, grandpa and lots of little nieces and nephews made the hour long trip from Salina to welcome their hero home from war.

â€œThere he is. There he is, he's coming he's coming!" Reporter: â€œHow does he look?" Johnita: "He looks good!"

Brent is in a wheelchair now after he was shot in the leg during a battle on Iraq's border with Syria, where five fellow Marines were killed.

Brentâ€™s mother Carol Montgomery: "He says they was actually, they got hemmed up in an alley over there and then insurgents attacked him and when they called for backup that's when they fired 26 mortar rounds on the other ones- He got hit by a sniper."

Reporter: "Brent how are you feeling?" Brent: "Feeling pretty good!" Feeling good, but not yet ready to talk about what happened. It's been a long, emotional week for this 21 year old Marine who's focus now is on recovery and being home with his family.

Carol: "He's hurt, but just glad he's getting to come home, that's the main thing! He's here, I'm happy. We're all happy!"

Brent Montgomery will be home for thirty days. His mom says he'll visit an orthopedic surgeon while he's here, so doctors can keep an eye on his injuries.