By Stephenie Steitzer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - About 200 returning Army reservists were welcomed home in Fort Thomas Friday, but one was welcomed home twice.

As Army Spc. Mark McBee stood blindfolded in front of his new home Friday, he was expecting to see a small, ranch-style house that he and his wife, Liz would rent for a few years.

Liz McBee and husband Mark smile after she removed his blindfold and showed him their new house. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

The McBees' new house. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

But when she untied the red bandana from his face, he saw a two-story brick home in the large, upscale Oakbrook subdivision that they are buying with the help of Liz's parents.

"I thought it was going to be like a shack," McBee said as he stared at the front of the house.

While McBee and 200 other local reservists from the 478th Engineer Battalion of Fort Thomas were serving in Iraq the past five months, Liz and her parents found the house, moved the couple's mostly antique furniture and set up what will be guest bedrooms - for now.

Liz, 25, said her parents Jim and Jan Pifer of Indianapolis, wanted the couple to find a home where they could raise children and host family gatherings.

She said she wasn't worried that her husband wouldn't like the home because since serving in the Iraq war, "he's full force in starting a family."

As she waited for her husband's arrival with families and friends of other reservists, she bounced up and down and called him three times on her cell phone.

"I've been so excited today I forgot to eat," she said.

Liz and other supporters waving flags and holding "Welcome Home" signs lined up as three charter buses pulled into the U.S. Army Reserve Center at about 7 p.m. Friday.

Liz and her husband embraced a few times, but she wasted no time getting her husband to his new home in Boone County.

As he stood in amazement in their yellow and green kitchen, which Liz stocked with his favorite cereal - Lucky Charms - he hugged her and said: "This is wonderful."

E-mail ssteitzer@enquirer.com

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