Can you describe how you felt coming home from a deployment or combat?

Returning home from a deployment was always filled with happiness and anxiety. Life has a way of being so routine when deployed time passes differently and things in some ways feel easier. Returning home is a huge transition and initially that can be difficult

Sad not hearing from home for 2 months
And get home they forgot we were returning
I walked 5 miles home to find someone in my bed

Sometimes it was just great to get away. Other times it was a new opportunity.

Returning from Vietnam in 1968 was a relief, I survived Hue and Tet, Khe Shan, and Asha Valley with none of the people I was responsible for hurt physically. I had the attitude that I was invisible and in destructible and life in the world was a piece of cake. I shared my experiences and many slides of the actions I experienced at several public venues. I was greeted with questions about the morality of my actions. In one instance a local judge help me escape the confrontation before I wasted anyone. I had my share of family and friends showing pride is my service and that was gratifying. I was released from active duty and attended grad school where I confronted anti war demonstrators. I have many questions to this day.

I kissed the ground, I was thankful enough to be home. There was still fear, worry and excitement in those feelings, above all, I was relieved to no longer be in a physical hell. To my dismay mental and emotional hell followed and took me several years to dig myself out of that. Still there are days that I forget/need a reason for living but I am reminded it is not up to me- that at least on those days I can do something good for another being (dogs help)and that has to be enough on that day to keep me pushing into the next.

It was depressing; I ended up right back at my mom's house, starting over again with no idea what I was going to do or how I was going to pay for things

I was on the receiving end of my husband coming home. He didn't talk a lot but he seemed to be relieved to be home. He was deployed A LOT during the beginning of the desert conflicts (power guy). He always got two weeks off after returning and I would just let him sleep late and would fix his favorite meals. Oh, and our two girls were "deployment babies" if that says anything. (LoL) I was only too happy for him to get an assignment out of a mobility unit. He, thankfully, spent his last eight years in chained to a desk. Not his ideal because he worked with a lot of brass but I was only too happy to have him close to home.

Mixed bag is an understatement. I was happy to be coming home and excited about seeing my family again but also very scared and anxious about it. I didn't feel like I belonged anymore. And my family even described me as being totally different from what I was before I left. I was just shy of being a stranger. Things are better with the family but nothing else has changed much.

After serving 4 yrs during the period of 1967-1971, we were advised not to wear our uniform in airports, train station or even in public. This was due to war protests and the dislikes of military personnel by the some of the public. It was not a proud time to be a veteran. I felt proud to have served but disappointed about the reception. To this day I am extremely proud to have served during that period.

Excitement to get the heck back home! Had no issues adapting back as husband and father. Take things slow; rest, relax, and slowly adapt back into the family. Talk with your spouse to get caught back up on anything you missed. Deployments have gotten so much easier in staying in touch with your family via internet and video chat...