Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: The Kulas family Lakeland student Wendi Kulas fulfills her promise, jumping at the sight of her fiancé Specialist and Combat Engineer, Andrew Ludwig.

Media Credit: The Kulas Family Andrew Ludwig, of C-Company 397 Engineering Battalion arrives home in Wisconsin from Iraq on Sept. 18.

As I walked into Wendi Kulas' room last week, she was cuddled in her comfy bed intently watching the end of the television show, The Hills. After the show ended, she gave a sigh of relief. I don't think she gasped at the show's ending, but because she knew I was there to talk about her fiancé, Andy. Wendi is extremely relieved. "He's finally home, he's finally safe," she said.

Wendi, a senior writing major, had been separated from her fiancé, Andrew Ludwig, for over a year. Andy and Wendi have been engaged since Christmas Eve 2005. He was mobilized on July 17, 2006 and deployed to Iraq Sept. 19, 2006.

Specialist and Combat Engineer Ludwig returned home one day shy of a year in Iraq. On Sept. 18 the C-Company 397 Engineering Battalion flew into Volkfield, Wis. to greet their families. Wendi was right there to fulfill her promise to Andy, and "jump on him" when they were reunited. Other members of Andy's family were also there to welcome him home. His dad wore a shirt saying, "My Son, My Hero."

All but one returned home that day. Corporal Stephen Shannon was killed in Iraq. There was a special plaque at the ceremony in Volkfeild, giving tribute to Corp. Shannon. It was placed along side his boots, gun, and dog tags, it read "never forgotten."

It is no surprise that Wendi, along with so many others are relieved that Andy arrived safely home that day. Andy's job overseas was to search for IED (improvised explosive devices) and roadside bombs while in Iraq.

Just thinking about having someone you love in that situation is enough to make anyone quiver.

During his time overseas they tried to keep in close contact. He would call her whenever he had a chance. Wendi had a special ring tone so she could sprint to the phone whenever Andy called. They also used the Internet to stay in touch, but it can be agreed that in person is much better. "You never really know how long fourteen months is until you are apart," Wendi said.

A new leaf has turned now that Andy is back on American soil. As Wendi finishes her last year at Lakeland, Andy will be setting up a place for them to call home. "We can finally start being us again, which I'm so excited for," Andy said in an interview with a local news station.

Wendi is really excited for the new apartment in Dorchester, not to mention the wedding to plan for Sept. 8, 2008. But more than anything, she is excited to have her fiancé back, "I missed him a lot because of the stupid little things," she said. No more worries for Wendi, because now she gets to look forward to her and Andy's future together.

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