Andover Police Chief Dan Vild carried a heavy burden on his shoulders Tuesday, being the first rescuer at Andover Industries after a man shot several co-workers before turning the gun on himself.

But on Wednesday, Vild cast the swirl of news cameras, briefings and that investigation aside to put his 19-year-old son above all else.

Vild seemed on top of the world as his son, Spc. Donald Vild, returned from duty in Afghanistan, arriving Wednesday afternoon in New Castle with his fellow soldiers. Members of the 99th Regional Readiness Command's 326th Quartermaster Detachment were mobilized Dec. 9 in response to the global terrorism threat. The soldiers trained at Fort Dix, N.J., and arrived in Afghanistan on Christmas Day.

Led by a motorcade of 17 Vietnam veteran motorcyclists, the soldiers came home after serving their mission of providing clean water for drinking and showers to other soldiers.