I can remember when my father would leave especially when he would leave without notice an I would run to the closet to see if his green duffel bag was gone. Then the waiting began never knowing when he would return, or where he went, he did return that was nearly 68 yrs ago , Vietnam Era. I'm now an AF wife an I've experienced waiting on him also, so proud of both my father n my husband both gave more than 20+ yrs to this country. If my father were still here he would do it again just like my husband would. God bless America n our servicemen n women an their families. We will keep the home fires burning for you with love n prayers. 🙏♥️🙏

20 years in submarines, did that at the end of 8 SSBN patrols and 5 long fast attack deployments. Absolutely nothing like that first hug from my wife and kids. We kept the submergence to surface ratio at 1:1 and made it home alive every time.

I can only imagine the thrill of being flying home on a jet fighter, and then you got to see your family right after you land.

Im a 71 year old man. Im in tears watching this video. Im so proud of this fine man and his family and our wonderful armed forces. God bless you!

Seeing that man reunited with his family brought tears to my eyes. I can tell he is a good father and an honorable man who loves his country and is willing to sacrifice tremendously for it. We need more men on earth like this guy. Thanks for leading from the front.

Never forget that all family members are affected when a love one is deployed. Hat's off the mom's and dad's who keep the home fires burning!

Outstanding. Welcome home shipmates. 🇺🇸⚓️

Family is everything.

In the Army we had a saying "Army wife; the toughest job in the Army". During my retirement ceremony (67 to 91) my wife was presented with a dozen roses and a certificate of thanks. It should have been a medal. 🥰

It was so incredible watching him as he was taxiing. He was looking for his family. Also flying a killer war machine and still able to show his soft side. You pilots are an incredible breed of human beings. Thank you for what you do!!!!!

Most of these "try not to cry" titles are clickbait. Not this one. Well done putting this vid together. I'd sure love to thank that Major for his service and the entire family for their sacrifice. Very few would argue that the Hornet is a one-of-a-kind 4th Gen fighter. It's a whole-family sacrifice for one to serve this nation. ~USAF Veteran

Try not to cry? No, be honest, this is a wonderful video. The reality of coming home after a cruise is something to witness and relish. It is every bit as hard on the family at home as it is on the deployed crew. May God Bless them all. Navy 77-81 AD3

His daughter needed her daddy so badly, you could tell by the way she hugged him and didn't want to let him go.

It's been a long time for me, 1970's. Those deployments are so hard on Navy spouses. But I would do it all over again in a minute.

was stationed here 1982 to 1989.....VFA-25 was our sister squadron....VFA-113 Stingers......awesome to see this.......we made the first Cruise with the FA-18 Hornet 1985 USS Constellation. I knew this base like the back of my hand and knew many great servicemen, NAS Lemoore Ca....ONE of the good things still happening in CA...God Bless

19 seconds, 19 seconds and i started. To you all stay safe out there and thank you so much for what you do.

To my gone but not forgotten passed in-laws. To my Father-in-law who bravely was in Vietnam 3 times, reported missing, wounded once and evac to Japan. To my Mother-in-law that kept the home fires going. That left the Christmas tree up with presents under it until he came back from overseas. You are in my thoughts. Thank you for your sacrifices. I am glad you did get years together.

the faces of everyone there were so happy when they met their families that it made me cry. Respect to the guardians of the sky

Such a beautiful moment. Thank you for protecting our country. When we came back from our war, many years ago, hippies would spit on us and called us ugly names. Does my heart good to see this beautiful video.

Because of the service of men and women like that Naval aviator and the sacrifices of their family, we sleep under the blanket of freedom.

I didn’t try not to cry. God Bless our military and their families. THANK YOU for your service!❤️🇺🇸

After 25 years and many homecomings , I thought this will be nothing to cry at. All12 deployments came flooding back it has been many years , that was what my family was all about. God Bless the Sailors at sea and the world keeping America Free.

This man has everything, thank you for your service sir and wish you nothing but the best.

This is cool and brings happy tears to the eyes. Beautiful! Truly beautiful

Please God, Bless and Protect these men. May they all make it back home, safe and sound, to loving waiting families.

Thank you, my wife supported the fleet, we are now civil service retired. I actually choked and got teary eyed. Miss the sounds and smells of the fa-18.

I remember being so happy to see my dad when he came home from deployments. When it came time for the roles to reverse, I realized how much of a toll it took on him.

Thankyou! Dave Dack and family, from England.

I can identify with this as I've done it through three generations. My first was when I was 11 years old and my father returned from overseas, my father probably never knew how hard an 11-year-old could hug. My next was when I returned from 9 months overseas after Operation Desert Storm with my 9-year-old son, I found out how hard a 9-year-old could hug. My final was when my son returned from a lengthy combat deployment in the Middle East, and he found out how hard a 60-year-old man could hug. It's a feeling of happiness, relief, and thankfulness. I've felt all three.

My husband didn't fly a jet but rather he spent most of his 20 yr devotion to the Navy aboard ships. That homecoming feeling can't compare to anything else in my life. We have been retired now for over 20 yrs and I miss my military family so very much.

And to this day we still have warriors like him who will fight for this country even as it's falling apart.

Love his Top Gun slow walk. Top notch. Welcome home.

Damn, this makes me so Proud of our War Fighters/Peace Keepers and their families. Coming home after a long dangerous deployment is emotional enough but to have your Husband/Dad come home via a Fighter Jet must be the coolest thing imaginable.

You can see the joy in his eyes the moment he hit the sky he knew his next stop is home i bet that was the longest flight he ever had much love and respect to all who serve ❤

In the early 90s I was stationed at NAS Miramar VF-1, and we would have to catch other squadrons planes when they came back from their deployment, and I was able to watch many of these awesome homecomings happen. GO NAVY

Thankyou and your family for your sacrifices to let my family enjoy freedom.

Im happy to see him come home to loving arms. When my submarine came home after 6 months at sea I took other men's duty so they could be with their family.

I remember that feeling when I came home to my wife and kid after Afghanistan deployment. It's been 12 years and still is the best feeling ever. Welcome home sir!

YES... grown man in tears here!! AWESOME VIDEO

Welcome home Major. Glad you are safe and have keep the rest of us safe too. Thank you for your service.

Brought tears to my eyes. I remember oh so well counting down the days and then the joys to coming back from long deployments and seeing my wife and children waiting amongst the other families on the jetty.

Just came across this video and in today’s world our men and women who sacrifice so much to protect us,I would like to say Thank You for all that you do for us 🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸

That must be a great feeling to have loved ones welcome you home.

How can we not cry? Thanks for protecting our country. Former USAF Viet Nam vet.

In 1990 I spent ten of the twelve months away, first RIMPAC ship ran aground Pearl for a few months repairs home two weeks the Persian Gulf home a few days before Christmas. But there she was with our two littlies as thousands of other wives do, looked beautiful. It was funny when orders were cut to go the Gulf she dropped me at the train station and just said see you in 6mths no tears no protests. A quick wave and gone. That's why I had the best 20yr career no need to worry. Now she tells our friends how I had a twenty-year holiday. Married now 38yrs, god love her and all the other wives without you we were nothing.

God Bless these Pilots... the best in the world... no fear, just incredible focus , determination, courage, and smarts.

I'm a 59 year old man in tears. Sir, thank you for your service and may God bless you and your family. 🇺🇸

Welcome home 3 years late lol. Just now seeing this, but carries the same message. Thank you so much for your service.

Thank you for your service and welcome home for all of our military personnel.

Family union is what matter in this life so touching to see the kid running toward his dad 🙂

"Try not to cry" I totally failed. To those who serve and to the families that serve behind the scenes with them, thank you for your service and sacrifice. To the family in this film, y'all filmed this beautifully. Thank you for sharing your reunion with us.

Loving family

VERY well done. God bless all our our military and their fami,ies for the sacrifices they make.

Remember all the family events these men miss, so we can be together in peace with our families. Never forget the men and women who stand watch over us. The men and women who sacrifice for us and our nation.

Welcome home sir, THANK YOU for your service!!!!

Thats so heart warming

God bless those that served and are serving, both at home and abroad, the people of the United State of America.

Being a Marine 1st Working on some of the hardest and best aircraft in the world. You know, yeah, it's the navys hand-me-down's ..😅😅😅😅 But onward, I got out of the Marine Corps, dreaming of being a pilot, and started flying in the air putting many hours in, and life changed. I was in a bad accident, but that didn't stop me from continuing what I was doing. I went to college. I'd become an A-P mechanic and worked on some of the most sophisticated aircraft in the world. Even though I cannot fly the military aircraft like I wished and dreamed. I've been still working on them, and I still fly. Be Tru to your dreams and never give up on your dreams. Life is exciting..

Wonderful watching. Miss my ol man. A soldier of life. Full bird, 101st airborne ranger. Blessings

My adamration for these people is endless weather there us 🇺🇸 or uk 🇬🇧 pilots. They are the sharp end of our freedom. God bless you all

I'm glad to see a happy homecoming. After 13 months in Vietnam, I never had the homecoming that we see our servicemen and women recieve today. God bless America!

Never gets old thanks to you and your family for your service...............

There is nothing like the camaraderie of the military and military families. It gave me goose bumps all up and down and yes, a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Grateful they got back home. Takes me back to the Vietnam era when pilots would come home and be welcomed. And when the POWs came home. Being at the airport waiting.....no feeling like it in the world. Welcome home and thank you for your service!

How can we not cry? To think these pilots made it back to their families is so HUGE! 3 years ago.. Now look at the world and the mess we are in. These are true Heros and there is more of them Please remember those that didnt make it back and those that have been deployed now. God be with them and thier families. Salutes to all that have served for our freedoms.

I was on a Tiger Cruise and all the helicopter units flew off and we’re home hours before the ship arrived. What a honor and privilege it was to be aboard in honor of my old man.

God Bless our warriors, Land, Air and Sea. May he always bring you home to your loved ones!

Love the fist pump when he’s feet dry. The Mighty Fist 25!!!!!!

it brought tears to my eyes.....There is nothing more emotional than seeing the military coming home and hugging their families. Thank you for your service!!!

Wonderful and yeah it was hard not to choke up, but remember those military families that can't reunite for the holidays.

I solute you sir, I actually am going to go to college so I can follow in the footsteps of my Grandfather, Uncles, my cousins and many of the Navy and Airforce pilots who have gone before me! Love the men and women of our armed forces. Thank you!

My father left the military back in the early 80's and I still get emotional when I see families being reunited. My mother was the strong spine through these hard times what with dad away on long tours. They will be celebrating 59 years of marriage this year.

There is no harder job on this planet than a military spouse!!! To all the wives who endure KEEPING THE HOMES RUNNING AND KIDS GROWING ALONE during those often scary deployments...Thank you for your service! To my Mom and Dad....forever greatful for the sacrafices you made for us. Proud of you both!

Incredible! Thanks for your service, Major. A Viet Nam vet.

Best wishes to all the families and greetings from Ireland!

Wonderful!

Moments like this kids will never forget.

Never gets old. Welcome home shipmate!

I think those guys and gals are the most incredible professionals on earth.

I loved homecoming day! Flying off near ChesLight into NAS Norfolk. Did it 4 different times. Best feeling ever!

The best feeling in the world was pulling back into Pearl Harbor after a 7 month deployment to the Persian Gulf and seeing my better half standing on the pier. The raw emotions of the reunion where nothing I could've ever imagined.

I was always jealous that our pilots made it home before us maintenance folks. However, a homecoming is a homecoming. Nothing beats that feeling. Job well done JoJo.

Those of us who haven't served often don't realize that everyone in a military family is, in a manner of speaking, in the service. May God bless our warriors and their families!

Am not an American but that moved me to tears. Respect and thanks to all who serve to protect our freedom 🫡🙏

Thank you for your service, sir.

Some things in life reveal the inefficacy of words. This is one of them. Happy New Year to everyone who makes life better and living safer for all of us.

Military family members coming home is something that can't really be explained; you have to experience it. I've been that kid before. The last time was 19 years ago, and I still remember the sheer emotion.

These men are the best of us.

From the Depths of My Heart. Thank you

Goosebumps and teary eyes.

I came home after Desert Storm. I was gone for 138 days. They told us to not bring any gifts with us...all our families wanted was us home. Thanks for the video.

Precious moments. What a strong family. Beautiful reunion 🥰

welcome home pilots. Thank you all for your service.

God Bless America and the families that sacrifice to keep us safe.

JoJo, great roll coming off the Carrier. No matter the fact that you are a great fighter pilot, protecting this great nation. The best job ever is being Dad and Hubby. Thank you for all you and those who serve with you do keeping us free. God Bless you all.

Could not wipe the smile off my face

I want to say thank to the pilot and The United States Navy for making this homecoming happen, I’ve come close to crying at other homecoming videos but this one made me cry and gave me chills. My son and I had a crying homecoming and I wish we had videotaped it.

Thank you all for your service. God bless

That is a very special tribute, you bet, tears of happiness for them. I am a combat vet, when I came home, there was nobody waiting for me, to see family members there greeting their soldiers is just awesome

From a former army aviator to each and every person who has ever or will serve I thank you for your service to our country and the world.

Welcome back, it is a very special moment for you and your family. I was in VA-25 in the mid-70's, A7E's on the USS Ranger. Retired as a Captain now from American Airlines. Thank you for sharing, gave me goose bumps!