Seven POWs in Germany return to Texas bases today

LANDSTUHL, Germany--Showing the bonds forged during captivity,freed American POWs playfully hoisted a comrade in her wheelchairFriday as they greeted a crowd from the balcony of a U.S. militaryhospital--their last stop on the way home.

U.S. Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson was shot in both ankles during anambush, but she and six others who were held captive for three weeksin Iraq were eager to return home after spending several days inGermany resting, watching movies and mentally preparing to return toeveryday life.

Smiling and waving from the balcony at the Landstuhl RegionalMedical Center, the seven made their first public appearance sinceMarines rescued them north of Baghdad last Sunday. Though Johnson andtwo others suffered gunshot wounds, hospital officials said all weremaking an excellent recovery and would fly home today.

"We all would like to thank our Americans for the tremendoussupport we've been getting, and we're looking forward to coming homeas soon as we possibly can," said Chief Warrant Officer David S.Williams, 30, an Apache attack helicopter pilot who spoke for thegroup. He urged Americans to pray for U.S. troops still in Iraq.

At one point, Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, and Chief Warrant OfficerRonald D. Young Jr., 26--also an Apache crewman from the 1stBattalion, 227th Aviation Regiment--reached down to help lift Johnsonso she could see over the balcony railing.

It wasn't the first time that fellow soldiers have been eager tolend a hand to Johnson, the only woman in the group.

During the military flight from Kuwait to Landstuhl on Wednesday,a medical technician helped her to the galley where staff were bakingcookies for the former POWs and others aboard.

"Shoshana, I got her up and had to hobble her the length of theaircraft on one foot to go up to the kitchen area," RussellGoodwater, 45, told reporters Friday.

"And throughout the aircraft ... I think every step we took therewas another hand that came out to hold her up, and it was like thewhole airplane was full of high-fives."

Today, the group was to board a plane to Texas--the two Apachecrewmen headed to Fort Hood; the five others, all from the 507thMaintenance Support Company, to Fort Bliss.

"All of the returnees are in good spirits and are eagerlyanticipating their journey home," hospital commander Col. DavidRubenstein said.

The two other soldiers who suffered gunshot wounds are Spc. EdgarHernandez, 21, who was shot in the elbow, and Spc. Joseph Hudson, 23,who was shot twice in the ribs and once in the buttocks, said U.S.Marines who flew them to safety. The injuries were minor, Rubensteinsaid.

Johnson, Hudson, Hernandez, Miller and Sgt. James Riley, 31, arecomrades of former POW Jessica Lynch from the 507th MaintenanceSupport Company, which was attacked in the southern Iraqi city ofNasiriyah on March 23.

AP