Town rallies around an injured soldier

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VASSAR, Mich., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Nearly all residents of Vassar, Mich., turned out for a parade to welcome home a soldier who lost all four limbs in a land mine explosion in Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, a Vassar native, returned home for the first time since the April incident in which he lost all of his limbs, The Detroit News reported.

"He stands for everything that is good about America," said resident Sue Hughes, 45, at the Thursday night parade. "He shows how great we can be."

Mills, 25, joined the military shortly after graduating from Vassar High School in 2005.

Since his injury, people in Vassar, a town of 2,700, and neighboring towns have raised money for Mills and have followed his recovery on a website created by supporters.

"It's great," Mills said after his parade. "Vassar is a great town."