Family and friends greeted 65 National Guard soldiers at a welcome home ceremony in Waterloo Monday. The 211th General Support Aviation Battalion spent nearly a year in Iraq and Afghanistan. While many military members call their comrades brothers and sisters, some are actually siblings. Staff Sergeant Travis Klein spent the past year serving with his two brothers in the Middle East.
"Our goal is everybody goes and everybody comes back. We did that," Travis said. First Lieutenant Sheldon Klein say he and his brothers only saw each other once during their time overseas. "It was just kind of a fluke deal. We were all there in the same spot at the same time. So, that was a real treat," Sheldon said.
After they take some time to relax at home with their immediate family members, Sheldon says the brothers plan to spend a lot of time together. "Once the dust settles a little bit maybe we can sit back and think of it, but I’m absolutely and completely proud of my brothers," Sheldon said. The Klein brothers have a history of military service in their family. Their dad was a member of the military as well.