Green Country Soldier Has Ties To Abducted Soldiers In Iraq

Wednesday, June 13th 2007, 3:29 pm

By: News On 6

Thereâ€™s still no word on the fate of two U.S. Soldiers kidnapped last month by Iraqi insurgents. The body of a third abducted from the platoon was found in a river. Some in the group were granted two weeks leave, and one came home to Tulsa on Wednesday. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin was there, she reports it was a familiar scene at the airport, family members filled with tears of joy as their Solider walked into their arms. But there was some sadness too, for his missing buddies, and the homecoming he wishes they could also have.

"It's good to be home," Private First Class Brandon Gray said.

After flying for 17 hours, not including layovers, Private First Class Brandon Gray is finally home from Iraq.

"I'm looking forward to eating some real food, not food that's dehydrated in a bag," he said.

Gray couldn't tell us about his mission or where he's located except to say it is quote "not a good neighborhood." Three of his fellow Soldiers were on duty last month when they were overcome by insurgents and kidnapped.

"That was a bad day," Gray said.

Gray says he can't talk about how it happened, but said the impact has been tough on the entire company.

"I miss my guys, miss my buddies, I don't know if their parents will see this cause they're from all over the states, but they're really good guys, and they're missed," Private First Class Gray said.

With a platoon of about 15 he says the group is extremely close.

"We're all we've got,â€ said Gray. â€œYour life depends on your buddies, all the time, every day."

As he's surrounded by the love of family here at home for three members of the family he left behind to disappear is a heartbreak that just won't go away.

"That's definitely been the toughest thing over there, it's not that bad getting shot at and blown up, and all that other kind of nonsense, but when it happens to your buddies, it's a big deal," Gray said.

"I just wish their kids would come home like mine did,â€ Brandonâ€™s mother Christi Gray said. â€œI wish them the best and hope they find â€˜em.â€

Gray's mother says he called and told her he was okay after the kidnapping, but couldn't say what was going on. But when she saw the story the next day, she knew. She says he was due to replace the abducted soldiers in a matter of minutes so she knows it could've happened to her son.

Gray's tour has been extended by the military to November.

Watch the video: Oklahoma Soldier In The Same Platoon As Kidnapped Soldiers In Iraq