Soldiers join the guard for many reasons... Maybe military service runs in their family... They do it for financial reasons... Or they sign up because of strong feelings of patriotism.

A North Dakota Soldier returns home today after serving a year in Iraq... And as Donnell Preskey reports he wasn't forced to go he wanted to go for his own reason...

Sergeant Hugh Grindberg joined the Guard 21 years ago... And today he returns from his first deployment..

(nat) Glad to be home... tired from the long year... Grindberg was a supply sergeant in Iraq... (Sgt. Grindberg) "18 hour days four days off for whole tour last day off was in May. A lot of paperwork, making sure soldiers get what they need." The welcome home party is a quiet one he's the only one returning... Grindberg volunteered to go to Iraq with a National Guard unit out of Kansas..

It was his ticket to college...

"I volunteered so can quit job an go back to school full time." Grindberg needed so many days of active duty to qualify for the new GI Bill... And that was the sole reason he volunteered to spend a year in Iraq..

"A new GI bill out there that pays tuition, pays housing allowance, pays for books, active duty pay, tax free in combat zone - got me out of debt. So I get to start over." In his 40's it's the fresh start he says he needs... He'll be going to UND to get his teaching degree in English.

Grindberg says he's looking forward to a Grain Belt beer and onion rings at Whitey's in East Grand Forks. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list