PHOTO GALLERY: Army Capt. Kirby Atwell Gets Warm Welcome Home

Veterans, family, friends and supporters came out to give a big welcome home to New Lenox resident and Army Capt. Kirby Atwell. 

Soldiers Guardian Angles and Warrior Watch Riders escorted Atwell home on the final leg of his journey after completing active duty in Japan.

Tom Talmann of Soldiers Guardian Angles honored Atwell with the Challenge Coin presented by the Warrior Watch Riders, along with Mission Beads and a printed out Thread.

Atwell, 29, grew up in New Lenox and attended Lincoln-Way High School. He is now home with his mother, father, and two brothers and looks forward to playing softball.

He has been awarded several medals of honor including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and was recently received the Soldier of the Month Award.

Among many accomplishments, he attended West Point, was hand selected as the Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier Gen. Roger Matthews at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and most recently took command of ANITPY-2, Shariki, Japan, since June of 2009.

“The Japanese people were really awesome. I’ll miss it a little bit but it’s great to be home.”

Atwell was in northern Japan during the earthquake and tsunami. “The earthquake was on the Pacific Ocean side. We were on the sea of Japan side. I shook in my office about two minutes and rolled around in my chair. Afterwards we drove supplies down to the Tsunami areas.  It was just unbelievable to see the devastation there. There were towns just  completely wiped off the map. People lost their houses, families, everything all at once.”

Atwell’s parents both said that having him home and enjoying family and doing the ordinary things like working out together, softball, bike rides are what’s best about this. 

“You forget about those things after 11 years of being away” said his father, Corey.

Even now that the captain is home, Kirby’s father who will be in charge. “I’m still in charge,” he said, laughing. “When they were little I used to pile all three of the boys and sit on them. Trying doing that to those three now.”

Atwell’s mother, Eileen, said, “Having family back together is a godsend. I’m just so grateful. I think about all the soldiers that are still there fighting. They give it all and so do their families.”

“Kirby is looking forward to being with family and friends and starting the next chapter. He really appreciates all he’s been able to do. We always encouraged him to have a high level of integrity and humility.  We’re really happy for the man that he is.”