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

A relief. You just know you're home when the aircraft lands and doors open.

The First Time I felt Honor Courage and Commitment. I felt apart of something my life was something. One team One fight. It hurts that I haven't found a connection to anything in life since that. WHOO RaH

Very mixed emotions. Excitement to see family again and fearful, as the American public was not in favor of the Vietnam War.

I was thankful to be alive and in one piece. Excited to see my loved ones again. Happy to be back home. That all lasted about a week, then reality came crashing down. I couldn't be around crowds, I couldn't have a conversation with my civilian friends, since we no longer had anything in common. Loud noises made me jumpy. I kept my head on a swivel, and evaluated everything and everyone in my field of vision for threat level. I shut down emotionally for a long time. It took some time, but I once again became a sociable, pretty decent human being, but that darkness is always there. The demons are locked away, but there are times that some sight, sound or smell will trigger them, and they bust out of their cage. Fortunately, I have an incredible support network, and they can talk me down. My biggest struggle these days is overcoming the "bunker mentality" that makes me want to withdraw, isolate and close off. I do still have trust issues, and there are less than a handful of people I allow to get close, physically, mentally and emotionally, yet I'm not lonely, even when I'm alone, if that makes any sense. Sorry for the length of the answer.

I felt proud having did something that most Americans will never have the opportunity to do. Having served my country, is a. Special feeling that's hard to put into words

When I got to lax there was a big protest going on I was spit at called baby killer , murder I felt so ashamed I almost cried not knowing what was going on I wanted to take my uniform off then a friend that was with me in nam said they don't know personally what we went through then I felt a lot better

Relief! Was so ready to get back to some sort of normality.

It was rough coming home from deployment. There were all sorts of problems with my teenage son and his caregiver that boiled over the weekend of my units return, to involve law enforcement. Not exactly the warm homecoming I had in mind. After everything though it was a relief to back in my home, with my pets, friends and family.

Much to my chagrin, I was never able to deploy because I got cut orders to a new command right before the deployment (needs of the Marine Corps). I was at least able to go on two detachments: got to support training in Wisconsin and California for several weeks. They were a lot of fun, but it would have been nice to get out of the country.

I remember coming back from first deployment and everything feeling brand new again. Wearing regular clothes and visiting friends again was like I was reborn. I remember too how weird it was to drive my car again after not doing do for 6 months. I took a few trips around the parking lot to make sure I knew what was doing lol. The overwhelming sense of accomplishment I felt too is one I’ll never forget. It was one of the highlights of my career.