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Kerry Barrett ReportingIt's been a roller coaster ride for a couple of military families. We've been with them since before they left, while in Iraq, and now to Monday's long-awaited homecoming.
But what was it like personally for those in the middle of a war zone? Captain Chris Vasquez describes, in his own words, Life at War.
"Hi Daddy. I miss you and I hope I see you really soon."
Capt. Chris Vasquez/ 388th Fighter Pilot: "There's nothing better than being a pilot, but I have to consider the price on my family. I have to consider the selfish kind of nature of getting to do what I completely love, versus leaving my favorite three people in the world for four months."
Captain Chris Vasquez is, of course, talking about his wife Aubry and his two children-- Chloe, and his little boy Luke.
"I would like to be able to just have a smile and be like, 'It's no problem. We expected it.' But the truth is that it's very difficult."
"I don't look at the calendar at all. I don't wear my watch if I don't have to, and I don't look at any of the countdown calendars people have. It's just too hard."
Instead, he distracts himself with work, staying busy to stay sane.
But, the messages from home brought it all back.
"It's one thing to see, talk to her on the phone. It's another to see a video."
The talk of sacrifice that once seemed a bit of a platitude is now much more than a bumper sticker, much more than lip service. It doesn't only take a toll on him, but on his family as well. He notices it especially when he's on the phone with Chloe.
"As time goes on, she just gets kind of vague, just like she's talking to a grandparent or something like that."
"I think there definitely will be some work to be done playing with her when I get back to make sure that she knows that I love her and that I didn't leave her because I wanted to, but because I needed to. There will be a lot of work getting back to being a dad again and a husband."
Right now, he says it's a difficult balance. He's missing Chloe's fifth birthday. Luke is learning to talk.
For him, though, only second hand memories.
But he also knows there are plenty of men and women who are gone for years at a time, and there are also the ones who don't ever come back.
He thinks of what he personally is fighting for, and realizes he's part of something far bigger than himself.
"Like yesterday morning, when the sun's coming up and it's orange and red and just glowing, and you can see the Iranian mountains. There's no way I would ever trade this for anything."
The transition period after a deployed spouse comes home can be very difficult. Chris says they do help them prepare for that transition while they're still in Iraq, but it's something he and Aubry still need to talk about together.
We'll follow up with them in about a month to see how they're doing and what issues they've encountered.
Coming up Friday, we'll here from Senior Master Sgt. Joe Gerling and his thoughts about being away from home.
