Area families happy troops coming home

Two local families, one with a son serving in Iraq and another that lost a loved one in Iraq, are pleased with President Barack Obama’s recent announcement that he would keep his campaign promise to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by the end of the month.Lynn resident Paul Narducci said he worries about his son, U.S. Army Specialist Justin Narducci, 22, a military police officer currently stationed in Iraq.”His deployment ends April 2011,” Narducci said. “Justin is there training Iraqi security forces so I don’t know if this will improve things for him. I don’t think ending the combat mission will make it any safer over there for Justin. I’m afraid they (troops) still face opposition and will be in danger as long as they are over there. I just want my son home.”The family of the late U.S. Army Specialist Jared Raymond also applauded the end of the combat mission. Raymond was killed in action on Sept. 19, 2006, while serving with the 1st Battalion 66th Armored Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. He was the first military casualty from Swampscott in Iraq.His grandmother Agnes Raymond said she is pleased an end to the combat mission in Iraq is in sight.”I’m really happy to see these kids are coming home,” she said. “It’s time. We’ve done what we need to do there and Iraq is practically standing on its own two feet. I think it’s time to let go and bring the troops home. It’s long overdue and I hope the rest of our kids come home safely and get the services they need when they get home.”Obama’s pledge to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by the end of the month comes despite the increased violence and political upheaval in Iraq. Obama said violence is “near the lowest it’s been in years” and he praised Iraqi troops for taking the lead in security in many parts of the country. But according to published reports, 535 people died in Iraq in July, which is the highest figure since May 2008.