A woman who cries whenever she hears "The Star Spangled Banner," Dee Russell has never lacked for patriotism.

But, with a son fighting in Iraq, Ms. Russell had an extra reason to be teary on the Fourth of July.

"I want him home," the Farrell woman said of Army CW2 William Kilgore.

A UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, Kilgore still is very much in the line of fire. He is stationed at Balad Airbase north of Baghdad, and has routinely been shot at on missions.

"He's tired of having people shooting at him," Ms. Russell said. "I have to make light of it. If I don't, I'll start crying."

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