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

GREATFUL FOR WATER AND SHELTER FROM SUN; GREAT TO HEAR MANY SOUNDS I WAS MISSING-LIKE HIGH HEELS CLICKING. BIRDS OUTSIDE THE WINDOW JUBILLEE -CLEAR FRESH SMELLS AFTER DAMAGED SINUS BURNS. SILENCE FALLS OF STILLNESS AND VINTAGE PHOTOS OF YESTERYEAR -
LEAVES RUSTLE AND WATERFALLS

At the time, I was young and unattached, so traveling/deploying didn't bother me. It was always nice to come home and sleep in my own bed and not in a tent or other strange place. And it was nice to see my friends again as well. There was also always an adjustment to the time change - sometimes it was like changing your days and nights around completely.

I remmeber getting off the plane in California and kissing the ground. Then taking a bus to Treasure Island Naval Station in San Fransisco, knowing I was back home in America and civilization.

Felt really good coming home

I was always ecstatic. Couldn't wait to see family and friends. I was very happy for weeks.

I completed 3 Deployments in 4 yrs, 2000, 01-02, & 03-04. I had no one waiting for me back on the pier each time I came back. I never got to feel that happiness, joy, & excitement of seeing & returning to loved ones or friends. To be honest, it was kind of depressing to me a lil bit. Seeing all that happiness & etc, and yet, absolutely nothing for me. When I would fly home on Leave after a West Pac was really no different than visiting home on regular leave.

In a word, EXCITED. I deployed twice and I loved every minute of it but returning home is so nice because I would be amazed at the changes in my town. My mother had six children and five of us served, plus two son in-laws, she was used to deployment.

I was in during desert storm but I did not deploy with my unit. Even though I never went over seas, going home was always a huge uplifting time for me. My family was proud of me and supported me and always welcomed me with open arms. Going home was exciting. I was the only female in our family that ever was in the military, so it was a big deal to everyone.

I felt alone and without a purpose. Glad to be with my family, but finding too much free time on my hands. It took a patient wife and my grounding to get by to civilian life.

How I felt coming home was elated because I missed my family sooooo much plus they had went through Hurricane Hugo by themselves without me. I remember hugging my mom so tight and my sister and crying. I was so happy to be back at home with my loved ones.