YEAR IN REVIEW: Injured Williams soldier receives homecoming

Eight months after Williams mourned the loss of one of its sons, the life of another hung in the balance in 2012.

This time, however, the city celebrated the homecoming of Army Staff Sgt. Alex Jauregui, who lost both of his legs and suffered other injuries when he stepped on an improvised explosive deviced while on patrol in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday.

Jauregui was given a surprise, community-wide homecoming party in the downtown area, and later the City Council gave him a proclamation honoring him for his service.

The community also raised thousands of dollars to help him with his recovery.

Jauregui is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina but assigned to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, DC.

He spent Christmas at home with his wife, Isa Marie, and his two sons and 3-month-old daughter.