Batavia welcomes Army captain 'home'
A town that is just getting to know him thanked discharged Army Capt. Jon Sergent for his service to the United States Friday.
Cynthia and Robert Sergent, who have lived in Batavia since 2007, threw a welcome-home bash for their son. Neighbors who have kids at nearby Hoover-Wood Elementary School got the whole school to sign a banner thanking Sergent. And the Patriot Guard motorcycle group later escorted him to the Batavia Overseas Post 1197, Veterans of Foreign War.
"The support in this area has been great," said Sergent, who grew up in Kentucky.
Sergent was a combat engineer with the 54th Engineer Battalion, based out of Germany. He joined the Army in April 2003, motivated by the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the U.S.
He was sent to Officer Candidate School. He spent one year in South Korea, and two of the last four years in Iraq, returning to Germany in July.
Before joining the Army, Sergent, 31, obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from Miami of Ohio University, then worked at a magazine in Phoenix.
He plans to move to Chicago, and study for a master's degree in business administration.
"It's a great honor to serve your country," he said.