Utah soldiers return home from Afghanistan (video)

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Master Sgt. Kim Peterson, of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, holds his two-month old son, Kellen, for the first time after returning to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Peterson, from Richfield, was in Afghanistan when his son was born. He was met at the Salt Lake City International Airport by his wife, Staci, and their children, Kollin, Cassidy, Alissa and Jacob. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jack Curzon runs to his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Lynnann Erickson, of Orem, kisses her husband Sgt. Jon Erickson of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Adalynn and Wyatt Perry run to their mother, Staff Sgt. Cortny Barton of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as she returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jack Curzon holds a sign over his head as he waits for his father, 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, to returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jack Curzon hugs his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon, of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Adalynn and Wyatt Perry run to their mother, Staff Sgt. Cortny Barton of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as she returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Camden Curzon, holds a sign as he waits for his father, 1st Lt. Lance Curzon, of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, to return to Utah after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, left, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Camden Curzon, right, runs to his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, left, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Camden Curzon, right, hugs his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Master Sgt. Kim Peterson, of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, holds his two-month old son, Kellen, for the first time after returning to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Peterson, from Richfield, was in Afghanistan when his son was born. He was met at the Salt Lake City International Airport by his wife, Staci, and their children, Kollin, Cassidy, Alissa and Jacob. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jack Curzon runs to his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Lynnann Erickson, of Orem, kisses her husband Sgt. Jon Erickson of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Adalynn and Wyatt Perry run to their mother, Staff Sgt. Cortny Barton of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as she returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jack Curzon holds a sign over his head as he waits for his father, 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, to returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jack Curzon hugs his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon, of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Adalynn and Wyatt Perry run to their mother, Staff Sgt. Cortny Barton of the Utah Army National Guardís 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as she returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Camden Curzon, holds a sign as he waits for his father, 1st Lt. Lance Curzon, of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, to return to Utah after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, left, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Camden Curzon, right, runs to his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, left, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Camden Curzon, right, hugs his father 1st Lt. Lance Curzon of the Utah Army National Guard's 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as he returns to Utah from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lance was met by his children Jack, Camden, Ruby and his wife Amy. The mission of the 204th was to conduct base operations and base defense for U.S. military installations in Northern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers returned home at the Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, January 24, 2014.

By Nate Carlisle The Salt Lake Tribune

· January 25, 2014 10:47 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Staff Sgt. Cortny Barton ran from her airplane, through the terminal and down the escalator into the arms of her two children at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Barton, a 25-year-old Riverton resident, was one of about 25 Utah Army National Guard soldiers who returned home Friday from a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan.

"Did they have cactuses?" Barton's 6-year-old son, Wyatt Perry, asked his mother a few minutes after her arrival.

"No, they didn't have any cactus," she replied. "They didn't even have any trees."

The soldiers belong to the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. They operated and defended a base in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. They arrived at Camp Shelby, Miss., last week.

Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, a spokesman for the Utah National Guard, said the 204th did not suffer any casualties, though a handful of soldiers remain at Camp Shelby for minor medical issues.

McIntire said about 200 Utah National Guard soldiers remain deployed, primarily in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Among those who held welcoming signs and cheered as the soldiers came down the escalator was the family of Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Baum. In civilian life, he's a firefighter in Spanish Fork. His mother, Karma Baum, said her son's street was lined with American Flags on Friday and a Spanish Fork fire truck would be there, too, to welcome him home.

But Ryan Baum's oldest son was absent Friday. He left Monday for a LDS Church mission in Chicago.

"It's hard for a grown man to leave his family — a wife and four sons," Karma Baum said.

ncarlisle@sltrib.com

Twitter: @natecarlisle