Date of posting: February 11, 2007
I was a freshman in high school and it must have been in October. I also recall that it was Friday 13th.
Mom, my brother Todd and I loaded into the car and we went to the airport and anxiously awaited the plane which carried my father the last leg of his journey home from Korea after a 13 month tour serving as a radar mechanic on the Hawk missile system up on the 38th parallel.
When he came down the concourse he anxiously embraced mom very long and close. Then he embraced us boys in a great long hug. It was not until much later in life that hugs were to be a normal occurrence.
We went home so happy and full of joy.
Dad had received a promotion while he was away and we were all so proud of our sergeant first class (SFC) e-6. But I could not resist teasing that SFC really meant sucker first class as it requited him to serve a year longer before retirement.
I never served in the armed services, but I do know the pain of sacrifice that is a soldier's lot.
This was the homecoming from his third tour to Korea. I was a baby when he served his first tour. We were the lucky ones; he came home every time. Freedom is not free.
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