Manhattan Man's Military Homecoming A Sprinkle Of Holiday Magic For Family

MANHATTAN, IL — "There's no place like home for the holidays" might seem trite to some, but for a Manhattan man returning from his first deployment, it couldn't be more true.

Mason Fowler, 23, had been gone for 10 months before learning he'd make it back to his hometown in time for Christmas.

"It was pretty amazing," Fowler told Patch, of learning he'd be back not just ahead of Christmas, but with nearly two weeks to spare.

It had been a waiting game, to find out when he'd actually make the trip home from Saudi Arabia.

"We weren’t 100 percent sure," he said. "They hadn’t told us until a couple of weeks before."

Fowler is in the Army National Guard, deployed with the Blackhawk Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment. He was among 550 mobilized in February 2025. His unit was tasked with securing and protecting U.S. and allied forces in regions of Saudi Arabia, Fowler said, noting he could not disclose specifics.

He had just graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in business administration in December 2024–two months before he was deployed.

"I’m only 23," Fowler said. "Coming home at this age, after being gone that long—there’s a lot of feelings attached to it, I don’t even know how to communicate it."

Fowler was originally set to come home six days later, he said, but returned on Dec. 12.

"Most people had a heads-up," Fowler said, "but we were able to surprise my younger sister. She was making the chain links—you pull a link off for each day," Fowler said. He surprised Taya, 10, at her friend's house, a reunion as sweet as he'd hoped.

Others greeted him at the airport—a welcome home that left him speechless even a week later.

"Seeing all the smiles, getting all the hugs," Fowler said. "It was overwhelming, to say the least."

The family celebrated all together at home—a giant "Welcome Home" sign from Manhattan's own Celebrate With A Yard Card on display in the front yard. Sharing their sign was poignant for the company's owners, as well. Owner Karen Gentile, 55, is a lifelong Manhattan resident. She and husband Jim Gentile have two sons, Ryan and Chuckie.

"The reason why we founded Celebrate with a Yard Card in the first place was based on one thing that the Gentile/Osmus families have valued for generations: helping others," Karen Gentile told Patch.

"As soon as we moved into our house in Manhattan, our neighbor across the street who has since passed away, Warren Harmon, always used to bless us in different ways and say, 'You do things for people when you can.' That resonated with us so much and has stuck with us since we’ve lived in downtown Manhattan.

"So, being a part of a celebration where a family member in the military overseas returns home and is reunited with their family was so special to us all, especially around Christmastime!"

The weather the day she set the sign was frigid, and she had worried the ground would be too frozen to sink the stakes. But it worked! A photo captures an appreciative Fowler posed behind the sign.

"A sign like this for us is rare, and it was extremely sentimental to us as a business and as a family." Gentile said. "We hope that we brought joy into the hearts of Mason’s family and helped them celebrate such a magical moment in their lives."

Fowler and fiancée Lindsey Dunning are just soaking up every moment together.

"Having Mason home for Christmas is making all the Christmas songs seem like a dream come true," Dunning told Patch. "I have genuinely never felt more of a sparkle inside than knowing I get to be with my person just in time for the holidays."

Fowler's first deployment had been "a learning experience" for the young couple.

"The empty house took a while to get used to," she said. "Quite honestly, I never fully adjusted. Some of the hardest moments were seeing my friends with their significant others. They were glowing, and I was just wishing Mason could be here, too."

The two had endured distance in their relationship previously, she said, but even then, their times together had been more consistent.

"... we were used to seeing each other at least every couple weeks so the change to not seeing each other for 10 months was a bit of a shock," she said. "The biggest thing was keeping in mind then when he comes home it’s the start of our forever. It’s hard now, but it will make everything else so special."

With Fowler home, the focus became family time.

"Beef stroganoff," Fowler said, of his first home-cooked meal with family. "The best thing coming home—sitting down with my family, having a home-cooked meal. Having a meal together, having drinks as a family.

Dunning said it's what she had been hoping for, too.

"Some of the things we wanted to do when he got home was just be in our home eating a good meal," she said. "I didn’t miss the fancy dates or the big, grand gestures—I just missed the comfort and peace of me and him."

They made sure to visit some Manhattan spots, too, Fowler said.

"Soka!" he said, referring to Soka Japanese Hibachi and Sushi, 340 W North St. "Phenomenal. SO good."

He ticked off some other area favorites—Arrowhead Ales Brewing Company, and 3 Corners in New Lenox—and said they'll stop in to Flor de Fuego, as they'd frequented its predecessor Agave Azul.

He has a lot to do, and what feels like plenty of time to do it, he said.

"I'll be home for a while," he said. "As missions come and go, they pull from different areas. I shouldn't be going anywhere for quite a while, thankfully. It's kinda nice—a big ol' break."

He'll focus on finding employment—he never had a chance to do that before leaving—but right now?

"Christmas shopping, of course," he said, laughing. "Getting organized so we can have a good Christmas together.

"Very spontaneous. We have a plan, but I’m still getting used to stuff. Family time, trying to get back to that normal routine. Seeing family, some older friends."

And planning. Fowler and Dunning are set to wed in eight months.

"That first week, a lot of the time I’ve been spending with my fiancée," he said.

Dunning couldn't be happier.

"The main thing I missed when he was gone was walking in the door and seeing him and our dog Marshall waiting for me," she said. "Whether we were making dinner together or watching our favorite TV shows. Every day was a good day. I missed feeling his presence and warmth in our home and in my arms.

"It’s true when they say you never appreciate what you have until it’s gone. Mason being gone left a hole in our heart and home, no doubt."