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Soldier returns home for special Thanksgiving

By Lee Marshall – bio|email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - After 11 months, SPC Sarah Campbell was coming home Thursday morning.

"We've really missed her a lot," said Sarah's mother Melissa Campbell.

Camden, 3, painted his poster with a picture of the flag his Aunt Sarah fought to defend as a combat medic on the front lines of Iraq.

Then Sarah's six day, three country journey home was over. And for a moment this solider was Mommy's little girl again.

"Refreshing," Sarah said. "It's been a long year. It's nice to be home.'

She was home in time for Thanksgiving.

"It was really special for us to be able to catch all of our flights on time and get home to be released for Thanksgiving, it was really nice," she said.

Sarah's homecoming was put on the fast track because her grandfather was dying.

"He died, as a matter of fact, at 11:00 on Veterans Day," Melissa Campbell said. "He was in the Air Force."

"I wish I could have been here, but he knows that I love him and I'll see him again," Sarah said.

On this Thanksgiving, the Campbell's are counting their blessings.

"To be able to have my kids home, for us to be together, to have Sarah here, I just, I don't even know if there are words," Melissa said.

Sarah will get to spend a few days at home before heading to Ft. Hood to prepare for the rest of her unit. They'll have a little more time off in December.

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