OT - Soldier Comes Home & Surprises His Kids In School

[don Tomás]

I know similar clips have been posted in the past, but they never fail to put a lump in my throat. I bet even Old Ironsights gets choked up a bit...
Tom


Homecoming

[jnyork]

Great vid, thanks. (sniffle)

[Old Ironsights]

Well played. I wonder what excuse they gave the class for the presence of the camera crew(s)...

[marlinman93]

Thanks Tom! I REALLY enjoyed that!

[Old No7]

Way cool -- ANOTHER one!!!

I opened that up thinking it was the same one as on TV this morning, which was "just down the road apiece" here in Maine... But nope, it was another one!

The one this AM had a big wrapped present on the floor in the classroom, and the kids were a little younger. After many tense moments of waiting and wondering -- you know kids and surprises -- ta da!!! One of the boys dads popped up out of the box!!! It was cool!

Yup... Got a lump in my throat from that one too...

Thanks to our vets -- past, present and future!

Old No7

[Ysabel Kid]

Dang Tom, how'd you make it so dust came off your post and into my eyes?

[Jaguarundi]

[kimwcook]

Thanks for the post, but I've got to learn not to open those at work. Luckily my partners aren't around.

[jeepnik]

Think I'll call the boys.

[shdwlkr]

I think the kids have it the hardest when parents have to go to War. It was good to see another dad who made it home.

[jeepnik]

I think the kids have it the hardest when parents have to go to War. It was good to see another dad who made it home.

Don't know. Dad's have it pretty hard when the boy's go. I understood my dad a lot when I got back. The boy's and I have talked in a way we never could have before they went. Still, I think every old vet prays his kids will never have to go.

[shdwlkr]

I have only one son who is 3 that might have to go and it will be very hard on dad in his late 70's to see him go and it just might kill me as I know what he will have to do and will do because he is to much like me and I know what I did. My dad hated me when I went more because he couldn't go in wwii then anything else but we had some really tough times for a few years until I came home once and my sister and I talked about some of the things I did and would be doing again nothing but general terms but she could read between the lines pretty good. A next door neighbor unloaded everything to her and never looked back so she kind of knew some of the terms I used and wondered why I stepped into the soup so to speak. I told her because this land had our people buried in it and we had been on this land for thousands of years and no was taking it away without a fight. She understood things better and all she ever asked was I ok with what I had done and for a long time it was no. But after a while it came to me that I was alive for some reason and that had to be good enough and has been for a long time. I think if you can't separate the military life from the civilian then it will be hard and even if you can it takes time and will never totally go away as long as you walk this earth.
My other sons are all handicaped so they are safe from military service. The one that might be caught up in it just might be able to get out of it because he might be taking care of his old parents and if he is they just might leave him alone, but if he wishes to go I will not stop him no matter what it might do to me as it is his life and his choice not mine.

[JohndeFresno]

Good post, but link is apparently bad - screen got all blurry...

[shdwlkr]

John
that wasn't the screen its your eyes and all the dust it stirred up while you were watching it.

[JohndeFresno]

John
that wasn't the screen its your eyes and all the dust it stirred up while you were watching it.

yeah - er, "it's complicated..."

[shdwlkr]

John complicated is an understatement.
I once wore the uniform of the Army and every time I came home is was great. I was in the Army Ready Reserves which meant we could be called up any time but never where. I had buddies that where in and every time they came home until I was married I disappeared for a few hours and we talked shop.
I did some things that most reservists of my time didn't get to do and some that even the regulars didn't get a chance at because I was in the wrong place at the right time quite often I think my commading officer had something to do with it.
Funerals for fallen brothers and yes didn't matter if they were male or female they are called fallen brothers. I attended way to many of them. I also had the privilege to write the letters home for 226 that had been in my class just before being shipped out and my general allowed me to write the letters as I knew them the best. For years I could tell you what was in each and everyone of those letters, finally now I don't at least not very often.

Yes your totally correct it is complicated.