Escorted by a Los Altos police and fire department honor guard, Marine Lance Cpl. Ben Wetzel came home Saturday after two years in Iraq. As the honor guard rounded the corner of Valencia Drive, Wetzel was greeted by rows of cheering friends, family and neighbors, waving hats and flags to the beat of the Marines’ Hymn.
Mountain View Mayor Matt Pear opened the neighborhood’s festivities with a speech proclaiming July 31 Marine Lance Cpl. Ben Wetzel Day on the Los Altos block.
“I would like to publicly welcome you home from Iraq and thank you for your service to this country,” said Pear, standing on a float adorned with red, white and blue decorations and balloons. “We all thank you.”
Los Altos Mayor John Moss seconded Pear’s welcome for the 21-year-old who was sent to Iraq shortly after Sept. 11.
“From the city of Los Altos and the community of Los Altos, our thanks for what you did in Iraq, and our gratitude to see you home safely,” Moss said.
The Los Altos High graduate returned to the United States two weeks ago and is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, San Diego. A Marine Lance Corporal with the 5th division 1st Marines, Alpha Company, he was moved to the front lines of the Iraqi conflict last year. His company made international headlines for the capture of Baghdad and was the first to overtake Saddam Hussein’s marble palaces.
The company made headlines again when it captured 20 of Saddam’s top officials in a Baghdad mosque. Wetzel was awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds he received to his face when an ammunition-laden vehicle exploded during the battle in Baghdad.
For the last six months he was stationed in Fallujah, where he participated in some of the war’s heaviest fighting. He is mentioned in several books about the Iraqi conflict.
Also on hand at the block party was ex-49er Clyde Connor, who played wide receiver during his career from 1957 to 1962.
Wetzel is known among friends and family as a huge 49er fan and as testament to that wore a Ronnie Lott jersey on Saturday.
Connor presented him with a 49er cap, an NFL alumni shirt and an autographed football.
Wetzel had no idea that his parents, Roxy Montana and Rick Wetzel, had planned a homecoming party for him. He was taken by surprise when the police and fire department pulled out to escort Montana’s red pickup truck through downtown Los Altos. Wetzel thought his mom had been speeding and urged her to pull over. “I don’t think so,” she replied.
Kristin Matilainen, Wetzel’s high school sweetheart, was also present at the old-fashioned block party. “I’m glad to have him home. He’s safe. I can finally sleep,” she said.
“You always worry as a parent,” said Rick Wetzel. “It’s a wonderful relief when they get out of the war zone.”
“Only when I saw him did I believe he was back,” Montana acknowledged.
Wetzel said he is happy to be among friends and family. In Iraq he had to wait in long lines just to use e-mail or make a phone call.
“Contact is horrible,” he said. “You always pray for a letter.” About being home, he added, “It’s awesome.”
