TYLER (KYTX) - An East Texas soldier who's served 13 years in the Army, the last eight months in Afghanistan, is back home in Smith County with his family. He got home Wednesday, but CBS 19's Amanda Roberson was there for the surprise homecoming party Thursday for this dad and soldier.
"I just can't say enough about the people of east Texas I mean this is great, unexpected," said Maj. Horace McCorvey.
He said he wasn't expecting a line of flags and cheers before enjoying lunch with his family. "My wife kind of surprised me. I didn't know what was going on but this is too much."
Maj. McCorvey served as a medical lab officer supporting forward surgical teams in Eastern Afghanistan. "Afghanistan is extremely challenged for support so a lot of times we can't get blood to the hospitals that treat the soldiers so what happens is the forward surgical teams have to draw blood from other soldiers to give to severely injured soldiers."
"I was like going to cry," explained McCorvey's daughter Monica. "It feels really good for my dad to be home."
Monica said she and her brother Aaron are is just glad to have their dad back, but said she's proud of what he does. "How he marches and exercises, yeah, I like that."
Monica isn't alone.
"I feel like the best soldier is when you have a stable home, a supportive family, it makes a better soldier. I was determined and that was my number one objective," added Tonya McCorvey, happy to have her husband back. "It feels great. I feel more secure when he's here and he's a great help."
"It's always great to come home. You miss your children, you miss your loved ones and you miss the community," Maj. McCorvey said, but he admitted the homecoming is bittersweet. "It kinda stirs me up because there's still a lot of guys over there and I've seen some pretty tough injuries and I've seen some of the bravest men in the world."
Men and women like Maj. McCorvey fighting to protect our freedom and family.
Maj. McCorvey is in the Army Reserves now and said aside from seeing his family, he's looking forward to fishing and enjoying life in East Texas.
