Army specialist fulfills boyhood dream

McHENRY – Amid the patriotic fanfare – with sirens blaring, flags waving and veterans waiting at attention in full uniform – appeared the still-boyish face of Army Specialist David Sears.

After serving 15 months in Iraq, the Lakemoor resident arrived home Saturday, taken back by the crowd gathered to greet him and thank him.

“I just want to say this means a lot to me,’’ the 22-year-old McHenry East graduate said, looking around the McHenry VFW Hall for familiar faces.

After a monthlong leave, Sears will return to Texas to fill out the remainder of his service, and will come back home Oct. 29 for good.

It’s all a little surreal to Sears, who dreamed of joining
the Army since he was a young boy.

“I didn’t really know if I could do it,’’ Sears said. “It’s good knowing I was able to.’’

The long days were the hardest to get used to, he said.

“We do 12-hour missions,’’ he said, adding that his platoon did route clearances. “Everybody in our platoon was real close.’’

In May, Sears had a close call.

“I got hit once,’’ he said. “The truck flew 2 or 3 feet in the air. I grabbed onto the steering wheel.’’

The convoy he was riding in drove over a culvert where a bomb was buried. He was not injured.

“When my son went over it, it went off,’’ his mother Tina Sears said. “We have a lot of people who have been praying for him.’’

She was not thrilled at first when David made the decision to join the Army right out of high school.

“He’s talked about it ever since he was a little boy. I thought that he’d change his mind, but he never did,’’ she said, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s been extremely hard for me.’’

His parents were not the only ones filled with pride. Dressed in full uniform, ex-VFW commander Bill Richards organized the homecoming.

“We just want him to know what this means to us,’’ Richards said. “We tell them, tell all your buddies how much we appreciate them too.’’

McHenry Alderman Victor Santi read a proclamation from the city thanking Sears for “representing, protecting and defending our country.’’

“It’s good to have you back, it’s good to have you in one piece,’’ Santi said.

The Patriotic Riders and Warriors Watch took part in and organized Sears’ ride from the airport back home.