Wheaton's Newest Marine Gets a Big Welcome Home

When a couple dozen roaring Harley Davidson's shattered the morning peace in downtown Wheaton Saturday, it wasn't an invasion of an outlaw biker gang.

It was just Marine Pvt. James Myrick coming home.

Myrick, 19, is the family's latest addition to the nation's armed forces, joining his brother, Anthony, who has already served in combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think this is great and I'm proud of him," Jim Myrick said of his youngest child and namesake.

The Harleys were courtesy of Warriers Watch Riders, a non-profit dedicated to honoring service personnel of all eras.

"It's so important that we remind these guys that there are people out there who really, really care," Bob "RJ" Abrams, WWR representative, said. "What with the 24-hour news cycle, we tend to get immune to it (military conflicts). People should never forget."

The crowd of about 75 that gathered around the Myrick's home on East Indiana Street were mostly friends, neighbors and family members. But Naperville Mayor George Pradel, himself a former Marine, also took the time to welcome Myrick home.

Pvt. Myrick endured the Marine's famously rigorous boot camp in San Diego, California, and spoke of the process that took a collection of individuals from all walks of life and turned them into a cohesive unit.

"It looks like a cakewalk," Myrick said of the finished product of a boot camp class. "But we make it look easy. The whole objective is to break you down as an individual. If you ever say, 'I,' you get yelled at."

Myrick, a Wheaton North graduate, played a lot of ice hockey before he enlisted, but found out quickly that being a Marine meant a level of physical fitness for which he wasn't prepared. "I couldn't even run a mile," he said.

Myrick was definitely influenced by his brother enlisting. "I saw how tight my family became when he enlisted," he said, "And I was so proud of him."

And the Myrick family feels the same about both of their Marines.

"I'm proud of my little brother," said sister Alicia.

Mara Myrick is also proud of her son, although the news that he was joining his older brother came out of the blue. "I'm very proud, but I was suprised when he came home and said he enlisted," she said. "But I love my children and will support them no matter what they do."

Although she already has dealt with the worry of having her older son in harms way, Mara remains philisophical about what the future holds for James.

"The world is a dangerous place no matter where you are," she said. "They are making a difference and giving up years of their lives for something I consider worthwhile."

Anthony Myrick is currently stateside, but there remains the possibility that he might have to do another combat tour. The family has heard rumors that Jame's unit will be deployed to the Middle East next year. 

But any anxiety Jim Myrick has for his sons is well-hidden.

"When you go over there, you know where they're coming from," he said. "They have a job to do.'

As for his future, Pvt. James Myrick said that hockey might be the thing he will miss most about civilian life. He remembers the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup and the championship parade as the most exciting he'd ever attended.

Every branch of the armed forces has its own hockey league--except the Marine Corps.

But with his drill instructor an avid hockey fan and many other Marines interested in organized comptetition, Myrick sees hope. "We're working on it," he said.