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

wonderful,great like winning lotto

I had a difficult return from my first deployment, due to leaving America and coming back and seeing it in a different way. Sometimes space and time away makes you see more clearly. Most Americans have their priorities all out of whack, and quibble about little things that are so transient. Spending a year deployed, eating MRE each day, imagining all the ways you could be killed each day, and then coming home and trying to adjust and turn off your mind, is a difficult transition.

After my first deployment my wife was waiting for me on the pier it was a good day. After my second deployment my daughter took her first steps to see me made my day. The only hard part was she cried when I picked her up because I was basically a stranger but the smile she had and the pride she had taking ber first steps I will never forget.

Thirsty

It was scary and hard to adjust. We went from knowing exactly what we were supposed to do every minute of every day while deployed and coming home to free time. It was hard to readjust to “normal” life again.

So excited to see my loved ones and touch the sweet hard ground once again

I felt that nobody got me nor did my country but it had more to do with me and my attitudes. I am glad that I'm getting the help I need particularly to the VA and I am indebted again to my country. Thank you taxpayers.

Relief, excitement, joy

I remember feeling very nervous that I had changed too much and was scared that i would not be the same person for my family.

As an introverted individual, I was excited and relieved to be able to disappear and be separated from other people for a while after the deployment.