Family and friends of Army 1st Lt. Morgan Boyd of Arroyo Grande gathered at the Santa Maria airport on Monday to welcome him home from Afghanistan.
Boyd, 29, is home for a two-week rest during a 12-month deployment in an armored vehicle Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
He is the son of Mike Boyd of Fresno and Diane Boyd of Arroyo Grande. He and his wife, Brianna, have two children, 4-year-old Gracie and 10-month-old Ashton.
Mother-in-law Renee Collier said Morgan and Brianna were Arroyo Grande High School sweethearts who graduated in 1998. Boyd entered the military in 2001, served in Iraq from 2002 to 2003, and became an officer after earning degrees in political science and history.
The family is planning to relax together during his break on the Central Coast. Boyd and his family members are also collecting gifts from area businesses that represent the Central Coast.
Gifts such as T-shirts, memorabilia and treats will be shipped to Boyds platoon to distribute to residents in Afghanistan. It is common for Afghans to give American soldiers gifts to bring back to their home communities, and this is an effort to reciprocate that generosity. To donate, contact Darla Green at 489-1688 by Nov. 10.
Julia Hickey
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