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Welcome Home to Texas - 4th Infantry!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Results Realty

The 4th Infantry currently based out of Fort Hood - Killeen Texas has been arriving home from a year long deployment in Iraq all week.  Our son Sergeant Tarren Peterson's plane arrived yesterday.  We went to Fort Hood for the Welcome Home Ceremony and to pick him up for 4 days of R & R.  This is his second deployment but our first time to be able to attend a welcome home ceremony as his first deployment he was based in Germany.

We really did not know what to expect.  We were told the approximate time of the day before the ceremony and they did a good job of keeping us updated as it got closer.  The ceremony was held at Cameron Field which is the 4th ID's parade grounds.  A large tent was set up with food, soft drinks and a video playing.  The video was interrupted ever so often to let us know where the plane was.  As the plane landed we were able to watch it on video.  I think that was probably my most emotional point of the whole day.  It was so INCREDIBLE to know that our son was on Texas soil again.  The video is less than a minute but gives you an idea of the excitement.

It took quite some time for the plane to park and the soldiers to walk off.  I have another short video of the soldiers walking off the plane. I wish I had panned the room more than I did but I'm just learning this flip video. This one is a little repetitive so you only need to watch for a short time.

At this point we went outside to wait for them.  They came in on a 747 so we are talking about somewhere around 300 soldiers so it took quite some time for them to get over to Cameron field from the airfield.  There were something like 7 or 8 buses.  The soldiers unloaded behind the buses and then the buses pull away and there are the soldiers.  It reminded me of those home shows where the bus hides the house.  In this case it was the buses hiding the soldiers.  People were yelling move that bus.  It was so exciting when the bus moved to see all the soldiers standing there. The actual ceremony was only about 5 minutes and the soldiers and families were released to find their loved ones. I hope you enjoy the following real estate show of the ceremony.

 

I can't tell you the relief I am feeling having our son back on Texas soil. Tarren will be getting out of the Army May 1st and is immediatly planning on attending college.

Comments (74)

Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Marchel  Don't apologize for your photos - you captured both the thrill and excitement.  I'm not sure I would have been as patient.  Arthur and I are happy for your family

Mar 13, 2009 05:23 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

RUSSELL, Sugar and Penny were so cute.  It appears they found a nice forever home.  Tarren really hit it off with Dundy.  We were informed that it was okay if Dundy got on his bed.  He is planning on going to our local community college for a year and then wants to go to A & M WOO HOO!!

KAREN, It is the prefectionist in me!!  It is so hard to get good pictures at dusk.  Tarren is on his way home for the weekend right now.  Wow is it wonderful to have him close enough that he can come home for the weekend.  May 2nd he will be done!!!

Mar 13, 2009 07:27 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Marchel, this was SO NEAT!!! Your son looks like his mom, and just watching your video and the stills and hearing the music was special. Thanks for sharing. ;-)

Pepper

Mar 13, 2009 02:57 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

TERI, I have been on cloud nine ever since last Saturday.  Dang if he didn't spin his car out on 290 today coming home from Fort Hood (good thing I was still praying for those angels to surround him because they did).  He did a 180 and didn't go off the road or hit anyone.  We are having some wet weather and he had his cruise control on. I'm sure that is the last time he will use his cruise when it is raining.

By the way I learned all of what I did in the post from the rain!

Mar 13, 2009 04:14 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Marchel, the videos were very moving and I just wanted to stop in and say how happy we are that you are all together again! Such a relief and so much happiness. It truly makes a person appreciate the good things in life!!!

Mar 14, 2009 12:11 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Marchel, we have to always pray for our children - it does work - as you know. So glad he is okay. A mom's worse nightmare. ;-)

Pepper

Mar 14, 2009 04:54 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

RUSSELL, Thanks for sharing in our joy.  We had steak tonight for Tarren and a friend from Fort Hood.  They will both be getting out soon and both plan on going to college.  His friend got an even bigger stop/lost than our son.  His friend was supposed to get out last March and instead was in Kuwait on his way back to Iraq on the day he was supposed to get out.  Tarren plans on going to the community college for a year and then wants to go in to Marine Engineering at Texas A & M.

TERI, Isn't that the truth.  Shoot my Mom still prays for me and I LOVE IT!

Mar 14, 2009 02:12 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Home safe!  I am so happy to hear it made it back.  I'm sure the ceremony was wonderful, but the true prize is having your son back.

Mar 14, 2009 04:49 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Welcome back to the good ol' U. S. of A. Bravo Texas 4th and Tarren!

Mar 15, 2009 11:38 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

CHRISTINE, The actual ceremony was VERY SHORT which was way cool because all those soldiers wanted was released to their families.  Now we were there an hour before waiting so it was a little long for us but hey we didn't have to pull a year in Iraq.

JIM, So how do you know that Bravo stuff?  Were you in Intelligence?  It is way COOL to have him back in the USA and as of May 2nd he will again be a civilian.

Mar 15, 2009 01:53 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Marchel - As a mom I can just imagine how happy you are now  that your soon is out of harms way.

Mar 15, 2009 02:49 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

JENNIFER, It is a huge relief.  Now I can't wait until he is no longer commuting to Fort Hood.  I did say commuting as he is coming home every weekend.  He only has two more weekends to make the trip then he is on leave from April 4th through the 27th and gets out of the Army May 2nd.  He lost control of his car in the rain coming home Friday and did a 360 on 290.  I'm sure he is okay because of those angels I prayed to protect him. 

Mar 15, 2009 03:05 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Marchel:  What a great video.  Very well done.  You must have ended up all melted down into a pool of butter while waiting for Tarren to emerge from that great group of heroes.  What a wonderful day for you both.  Hooray for you !  Hooray for Tarren !  How great to have him back.  Take care...

Mar 15, 2009 06:01 PM
Lara O'Keefe
North Texas Home Finders - McKinney, TX

Marchel, I'm so happy that your son is home safe and sound. I loved your videos. They really captured the spirit of the event! Congratulations!

Mar 16, 2009 10:38 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

KAREN ANNE, I have to admit I did melt into a pool of butter when I saw that plane taxi in with our son on board.  I'm glad that we lived close enough to go to the ceremony.  The actual ceremony was all of 5 minutes which is as it should be.  All those soldiers wanted was to see their family and have a shower.

LARA, Thank you!  I can't tell you how many times I have watched the one of the plane taxiing in.  I just called him on the phone because I could.  For the last going on 5 years he has not been in the states much so MOM is thrilled to have back on Texas soil.

Mar 16, 2009 11:36 AM
Vanna Siackhasone
Real Estate Brokers of Alaska 907-720-4663 - Anchorage, AK
Anchorage Real Estate 907-720-4663

Marchel,

 

Beautiful videos. I am so grateful that we have these brave soldiers protecting our rights. Thank you!

Sep 24, 2009 08:10 PM
Nellie Lytvinenko
Homes by Nellie-Working with Buyers & Sellers - Raleigh, NC
919-210-9992, Raleigh - Cary NC Real Estate

Thanks so much for sharing Marchel. 

Each & every time the National Anthem is played no matter how much I  say "I won't cry" I do.  Do you think that's why I don't have  medical problems yet???  

Our FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.  Our Freedom is bought & paid for by many many lives.  Thank your son for us all. And a great Thank You to all our armed forces.

Nov 16, 2009 02:45 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Nellie, Thanks for stopping by my favorite post. I can come to this post and go through the videos (that I took) and start weeping every time.  I will never forget watching that plane land.  We owe so much to our armed forces.  They are why we have the freedom to be on here giving our opinions (sometimes controversial).  Our freedom is not FREE it was paid for with a price. 

Our son is doing GREAT in college and it is so thrilling to have him home!

Nov 16, 2009 02:54 PM
Mary Kay Hopkins
Mary Kay Hopkins, LLC e-PRO, GRI, CRS, CRB - Lake Charles, LA
e-PRO,GRI,CRS

Marchel,

After watching the video in your initial post, I went to this one.  I'm so very, very, very glad your son is home and that he is doing great in college....and is HOME!

Apr 23, 2010 02:58 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Mary, Thanks for stopping by my favorite POST of all time!!  It was a joyous day.  What a relief to have our son home safe and sound after two tours of Iraq.  As I said he is now a college student.  This year he went to our local community college but he has his application in to Rice and Texas A&M.; he wants to be a Mechanical Engineer.  Rice is a bit of a long shot but we are for sure he will get in to A&M.  Both are good schools.  He will know in the next couple of weeks. 

Apr 23, 2010 03:55 PM