Soldiers receive surprise homecoming from community

AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) - Seven soldiers from the 381st and 387th MP Company from the Plymouth Armory came home Thursday. Five of those soldier were honored in Auburn.

As the soldiers drove into Auburn, they received an escort from the American Patriot Riders with help from the Auburn Police and Fire Departments. The soldiers were escorted through downtown Auburn and then to the American Legion Post #97.

"A little overwhelming, I didn't think there would be this many people," said Specialist Bryan Schoof. "Just glad to see familiar faces and all these new faces."

Specialist Bryan Schoof is with the 381st MP Company. He and his fellow soldiers spent nine months in Afghanistan training Afghan police and soldiers to take control when U.S. troops pull out. Since he's home, he's on a different mission.

"Try to get a job and everything and just get back to the everyday world," he said.

The American Patriot Riders said their mission is to bring the soldiers home in a honorable way.

"It's to respect the families of servicemen that are overseas and hopefully to welcome them back home when they come back home," said Bo McKie.

Not every soldier gets this type of homecoming. Specialist Schoof said when his unit came under attack, one soldier lost his life. Three other soldiers were injured. He said at that point, he knew some Afghans soldiers wanted to kill them.

"When you're with a group for that long and you know that the person next to you is willing to take a bullet for you, and is going to be there, you're more than just friends," he said.