A Soldier’s Homecoming
cliff newell / west linn tidings
It was a patriotic occasion in West Linn when Ross Scott returned to his wife, Candace, and kids after a year of service in Iraq. Not only their house, but the entire street was decorated in his honor.
A hero must be in town in West Linn.
That is because 11th Street is festooned with yellow ribbons, American flags and signs, and over Willamette Falls Drive hangs a banner that says “Welcome Home Ross.”
Lt. Col. Ross Scott returned home last week after a year of service with the U.S. Army in Iraq, and his neighbors did not hold back in their efforts to make him welcome.
“I came home and the whole place was decorated,” Scott said. “The yellow ribbons went all the way out to the freeway. I was pretty impressed.”
Getting in on the action were Mary Brennock of Fast Signs, who made the big banner, the City of West Linn, which put it up, and the third-graders of Willamette Primary School, located right across the street from the Scott home, who put up a sign.
The people gladdest to see him, however, were his wife Candace, daughter Cayley, and son Ross, Jr.
“We have the perfect house to decorate with all of the windows,” Candace Scott said.
All of the joy and fun marked the end of a year of much stress for the Scott family, and it was the second time they have had to undergo such a lengthy separation. In 2004, Scott spent 15 months in Afghanistan.
“It was harder this time, but the community is so supportive,” Candace Scott said. “I grew up here and if you need anything, people are always there.
“But there was more stress on the kids this time. They’re older and they understand time better. They would see a newspaper article about a soldier dying in Iraq and they would ask, ‘Is that my dad?’
“The everyday stuff gets harder. If you think too much about it, you’ll get sad and it will take forever for time to pass. But some soldiers have had to take five tours, so I try not to feel sorry for myself.”
“I was proud of Dad, but I missed him,” said 11-year-old Cayley. “It made me feel sad.”
Returned optimistic about progress in Iraq
Scott not only had a happy homecoming, he comes home feeling extremely positive about the progress of the American program in Iraq. He served in the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade (based in Portland), which is rebuilding the nation: reconstruction, civil affairs, the economy, and rule of law.
“I feel very optimistic,” Scott said. “The security is very good, and the Iraq force is competent and capable now. They just had their second democratic election, and a lot of private companies coming in to invest. Iraq is behind only Saudi Arabia in oil reserves.
“People are lucky to finally have peace. I think Iraq will be a good friend of the U.S. for years to come. I foresee good things in the future. I feel real good about what we were able to accomplish, especially after all the sacrifices other soldiers made there.
“There were 4,300 who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“It was an honor to serve with elite soldiers. It makes you appreciate what we have in the U.S.A. It is the only country in the world willing to make such a sacrifice.”
Coming home to chores, Americana scenery
Before, Scott was an officer who gave orders to other soldiers. Now, he is taking orders from Candace and the kids. It looks like he will be even busier at home in West Linn than he was in Iraq.
“I have a laundry list for Ross,” Candace Scott said. “I want him to drive the kids, cook, and fix up the backyard. I want to go on vacation. Somewhere warm.”
Soon, Scott will return to his regular job as an officer for the Portland Police Department and be coaching his kids in hockey and soccer.
For now, though, he just wants to enjoy the view from a home that one could say epitomizes Americana — an old-fashioned house highly suitable for decorating, a grade school right across the street, and the rolling, green hills.
“I really missed the scenery here,” Scott said. “It sure beats concrete and desert.”
Still, Ross Scott and his family cannot take it for granted. He may again get the call to serve.
“That’s not up to me,” Scott said. “I don’t make the decisions. I’m just a simple soldier. You never know.”