Monday, December 12, 2005

Home

Our plane finally touched down at Ft Hood, Texas at approximately 3:30 in the morning on December 4th. This was a full twelve hours later than we were originally scheduled to arrive. The major part of our tardiness was due to the plane out of Kuwait being delayed by nine hours. By the time we actually landed, all 250 soldiers on the plane had been traveling by either bus or plane for over 43 hours. Needless to say we were all a little travel weary by the time we touched down, but it wasn't enough to quell the elated cheers of of every man on the plane as soon as we felt the Texas terra firma beneath the landing gear.

Once we unboarded the plane, we processed in, turned in our weapons and boarded a bus where we waited for what seemed an eternity before being shuttled to the gymnasium where our families were waiting. We formed up and ran in to the sound of loud, patriotic music playing and the ironically appropriate haze of a fog machine. We all stood there in formation and my eyes darted back and forth across the stands as I tried to locate my family. Once I spotted them, an uncontrollable smile broke across my weary face, and I locked eyes with my best friend and my wife, Amy. There was an appropriately short speech from our commanding general, and after the command of "Dismissed!" was given every man burst from the ranks and found their objective as quickly as possible.

At last we were home.


No words can describe


Back together again


Me and my best freind

This is not my final post. I still have more to say.

Until then...

j

33 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome Home! Can't believe I checked the blog at the right time.
Excellent photos, which say it all. You don't look at all tired. Thanks again for your service - I believe history is in the making and you had a part in it. You guys ROCK!

Best, Katy

9:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home soldier, well done.

4:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's great to have you home! We love you, and we are so thankful for everything you've done for us.
Now it's time for you to enjoy this extra, special holiday season with your family.

Welcome home! Great pictures!

Love,
Shelly and Jessic

4:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

John,
Welcome home! That family photo is beautiful! Thank you again, for your service. I am honored to have made your acquaintance and I am so happy that God returned you home safely.

7:00 AM  
Blogger Ron and Marilyn said...

It was so special to check your blog and finally see that you made it HOME! Now that brought tears to my eyes. I saw the Ft. Hood arrival on TV but had no idea you were there. Course, don't really know you except through your blog. It's been so great to read about your service in Iraq and how God brought you through. I am so happy for your very precious family who love you so much. God's richest blessings!

~marilyn holland

7:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome back John! Its great to see you with your family and we look forward to getting you back at the office soon.

Ketan

7:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home!

Christian - A random internet reader. :)

8:06 AM  
Blogger Fastest Squirrel said...

Welcome home brother!

9:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home to Central Texas! Thanks for your service.

Lisa in Austin

10:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home, John, and God bless you and your beautiful family. I know you are so relieved to finally be home. I found your blog while surfing some blogs. Believe it started with Michelle Malkin somehow. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading. You're a wonderful writer. I hope you will continue to keep us posted on what is really going on in the soldiers' lives and through the soldiers' eyes. MSM just doesn't cut it. Merry Christmas and thanks for your service and dedication. You all are amazing!
Patricia
Richmond, VA

1:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been waiting for this post as I am sure many have. It is wonderful news that you are finally back..... We have advised DOUG of his moving plans to return you to your cubical and your Flat Panel is elated and waiting for you. Can't wait to say hi in person.
Crystal K.

1:37 PM  
Blogger David M said...

Welcome Home Sir!

Thank you for all you have done!

6:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WELCOME HOME CAPTAIN UPPERMAN After reading the news release and hearing a brief overview of the ceremony upon your return, and viewing your blog pics, the patriotic pride once again filled my being. Thank you and those you served with for all of your sacrifices. Thank you, too, for the touch and impact you all had on the people,esp. the children of Iraq. Now that you are home thank you for the impact you are having on your family.(they too deserve applause for the strength they displayed, esp. that beautiful wife who wore many hats throughout this past year) I,m sure you all are probably pinching yourselves still wondering if the year is really over. Well believe me we are thanking our Heavenly Father for keeping His Ps91 angels "incamped about you and yours" this past year. MERRY CHRISTMAS, this will be a special one for sure!! Remember we luv you. GOD BLESS AMERICA ,(He certainly has the Upperman family) Ps91 over ya'll M/D

7:43 AM  
Blogger membrain said...

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to you and your family. Thanks for everything. God bless.

11:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home, Sir. I have followed your blog for several months and just want to let you know that you have inspired a lot of people across this country. Thank you for your service and love for our country. God bless you and your family.

Mark in Illinois

4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome Home! Praise the Lord for keeping you safe and bringing you back to your beautiful family!

Thank you for your service to this country over in Iraq. I appreciate it and appreciate your blog to help spread the truth about what is going on over there.

Have a wonderful Christmas and God bless you and yours!

~Kimberly, New Hampshire

9:36 PM  
Blogger pebblepie said...

Sounds just wonderful...

Welcome home John!

Pebble

3:58 PM  
Blogger Chevy Rose said...

Welcome Home and may God continue to bless you and our country.
Merry Christmas and have the Happiest of New Years!
P.S. Thanks for the photos, my eyes are now leaking.

2:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home and well done! I am so happy to see the pictures of your with your family, which did of course bring tears to my eyes. How could it not?

I think I read every single post during this past year. Thank you for giving me a whole new perspective on what's really going on. I feel better educated having read your blog than I do from seeing the news.

Thank you for your service. Thank you for all you gave. Have a wonderful Christmas season, full of hope and joy.

Gretchen in New England

8:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home Capt. Upperman.
It was good to see you in Church a couple of weeks ago.
May you and your family have a blessed Christmas. Thank-you for all you have been doing. Continue blessing everyone by your testamonies through your love of our Savior Jesus Christ and the words He has placed in your heart to share.
Chaplain Carri Carlisle
XO Texas Brigade, USCOC

9:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome Home and Thank You for your service! What a truly Merry Christmas for you and your family. Y'all look awesome, thanks for sharing the photos of your beautiful family:)

5:15 AM  
Blogger RebeccaMcCormick said...

We are sharing the joy of homecoming with our son. Please know how much your blog has meant to us all year. Thanks for sharing your lives with us. Welcome home!

6:07 PM  
Blogger Maggie Goff said...

Sir, thank you for your service. I am so happy for you and your family. Welcome home!

8:08 PM  
Blogger CJ said...

Welcome Home, Sir!!! So happy you are home--and in time for all the holiday fun. I hope you are having a wonderful time with your family. God Bless you beyond measure for what you have given and done. Thank you from my heart. Great pics too!!

10:26 PM  
Blogger elmers brother said...

Welcome home, my family and I owe you a debt.

10:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome back home, Cpt. Upperman,to American soil, to Texas, the great state of, and to your family. Wishing a very bright and promising New Year to you and your loved ones. Thank you for what you've done for our country!

8:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To my son, I know this is a late post, but me and your Dad are so glad you are home and that you had a great time at Disneyworld over the holidays. It's going to be a great year with both you and your sister home and safe and sound. All of your family in Ohio wanted me to thank you so much for your service. We had a wonderful time seeing everyone! Love you. Mom & Dad

1:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome home!!!
I am so happy you made it back safe and sound.
I can't wait for the day I am welcoming my Husband home.
God Bless
Kel

10:37 PM  
Blogger Patricia said...

Im sooooooo happy for you! So glad you are home... God Bless you and your family! Thank-You so much for all you've done. My daughter is just now on her way TO Iraq, and I cant wait for the day when I see her shining face back on home ground.

6:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you John, thank you Amy, thank you Jessica, thank you Jennifer, thank you Seth, and thank you Luke for all of your sacrifices in different ways. You all grew and so did all of us that had any contact personally or via the blog. Oh yes, most of all, thank you God for Ps 91. We will continue to remember those still in harms way and thank Him that Ps 91 is over all. Luv Nanny and Papa

12:50 PM  
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10:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome Home.

5:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hope all is going great.

5:33 PM  

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