Stonestreet tells of his trek from Fontana to Iraq and back

By PHILIP A. RUE

After having served 373 days in Iraq, Infantry Specialist Kevin Stonestreet returned to his base at Fort Riley, Kansas, and after six days of debriefing came home to Fontana, where his appreciative family greeted him as an American hero. Flags and bunting decorated house and lawn.

The son of Gary and Debra Stonestreet, Kevin has lived in Fontana since he was two years old.

At age 18 he enlisted in the United States Army for a stint of six years. He had attended North Tamarind Elementary, Alder Middle School, and Fontana A.B. Miller High School.

"I have three more years to serve," he reminded admirers who gathered to welcome him. "I stay in the States until next September, at which time I will be deployed somewhere."

WHEN his group deplaned at Baghdad, the temperature was 120 degrees. When they left Falloujah, the heat was 130 degrees. His 100-pound full pack, including about 30 pounds of weapons and ammunition, was carried constantly. They learned to tolerate the heat.

In the Falloujah sector, Stonestreet and his unit lived in a special airplane hangar and then in the air control tower. His duty was to patrol streets in an M2 Bradley armored personnel carrier looking for the enemy.

It was difficult to spot soldiers because they kept their uniforms at home and dressed in ordinary clothing to blend in with the locals.

Trash and human waste was everywhere, according to Stonestreet.

Older women wore black coverings and a number of them had tribal markings on their cheeks and forehead.

Stonestreet commented briefly about his patrolling duty and of the exchange of gunfire and the destruction of suspicious structures. He said he counted about 75 close calls in his direction. "They missed," he said.

From what he could observe, Stonestreet concluded that the Iraqis hated the U.S. soldiers.

In speaking to a gathering of family and friends at Stonestreet's welcome-home party, Debra, his mother, said emotionally, "We had many sleepless nights and crying days. We were so happy to see Kevin looking so good." She gave him another of innumerable motherly hugs.

Kevin Stonestreet and his family left Monday for a period of rest and relaxation to fish at the Colorado River.

ALREADY awarded a Purple Heart for wounds he sustained, Stonestreet has been recommended for a Bronze Star with valor for his participation in an action to help a contingent of Marines. A Combat Infantry Badge will also be awarded.

While in Iraq, he made the acquaintance of an infantry man named Bean who graduated from Etiwanda High School.

His aunt, Kim Browning, summarized Stonestreet's adventures serving the past three years: "He left a boy, and came back a man."

Print this story

Email this story