Home For Independence Day

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Fri, July 03, 2009 - 5:01 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, July 03, 2009 - 5:36 pm CST

It's a story perfect for Independence weekend. A soldier's family kept him in their prayers for months and their biggest prayer was answered on Friday.

The Surrett's walk into Mobile Regional Airport like an Army of their own but they're missing one soldier. The family is here for Army Specialist Jacob Surrett, he's been in Afghanistan for six months. He's a husband, a father and a son to a very proud family from Satsuma.

Jacob's mom Diane says she never really knew just how hard it can be. "I wondered how people dealt with this and it's not easy. I never knew until I had to go through it." His leave was scheduled for early July but there's never a guarantee when you're in uniform.

No one was sure that Jacob was flying in on Friday until his mom got a call in the middle of the night. He was already in Ireland and halfway home to Alabama.

The family waits nervously for the plane to arrive and spot him as he walks through the terminal. Casey Surrett jumps in his arms and cries. As coincidence would have it, Jacob's Aunt was flying in on the same plane and they go to sit together.

As the family hugged in the middle of the airport, we hear a round of applause coming from complete strangers. That's the moment that Diane bursts into tears. "It means that everybody supports all the guys. It just means a lot to us that everyone know what these guys are doing."

The 21-year old soldier hasn't spend much time with his 13 month old daughter Katie and can count on one hand how much he's seen his 4 month old Jacob.

Specialist Surrett says he will spend plenty of time with family but also plans to hit the water. He wants to do as much fishing as possible while he's home.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Video
Photo

Embed:

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

News –› Mobile

News –› Satsuma

News –› West Mobile

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Download Video

goneisland2 Says:

Sat, Jul 04, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Thank you, Jacob, for your service to our country and especially to your wife and family. Having been a military wife with a husband on deployment in Vietnam I know the hardship and sleepless nights that you went through. I also had young children and it was so hard trying to explain where Daddy was.

Enjoy your 4th of July—you certainly earned it.

Freedom is not Free.

mizcat Says:

Sat, Jul 04, 2009 at 5:07 am

Welcome home Jacob!! Thank you for everything you do to keep us all safe. Our families prayers are with you and the other brave women and men who keep us safe at home. Have a wonderful leave with your family.

SnLTaylor103 Says:

Fri, Jul 03, 2009 at 8:15 pm

jacob, you really are a hero to your family…We all love you so much and hope you have the best independence day ever…thanks for everything you are doing in the fight against terror, its people like you that make it easy for us to sleep at night…love ya man!!!!!!!

rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Jul 03, 2009 at 5:41 pm

Welcome home and THANK YOU for all that you do for our country. And thank you to the families that share these brave men and women to protect and serve!

Bikermike Says:

Fri, Jul 03, 2009 at 5:20 pm

my hat is off to you Jacob and to all of the brave young men an women of our military forces,freedom isn’t free and you all know this more than anyone.you guys put your lives on the line for the rest of us so that we my enjoy our freedom,happy independence day and gods speed.