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| OHCC LIVING | AUGUST 2026 | 31 Village Vets ere's No Place Like Home Ask almost any veteran about their time in the military, and before long you'll hear a story about coming home. It is one of our most treasured memories. During deployments, often six months, eight months, or even a year, the thought of home kept our spirits alive through some of the toughest days. Home wasn't just a place; it was the destination that gave us hope. So why is coming home so special? There are plenty of reasons. For starters, some places simply don't smell very good. I mean that literally. There's nothing quite like the aroma of an open sewer to greet you first thing in the morning. Then there's oral hygiene — or the lack of it in some parts of the world. I found myself handing out breath mints to a few of my foreign counterparts just to make it through a conversation. The food could also be memorable. At one gathering in the Middle East, we were honored by being served goat's eyes. Goat's eyes! We politely declined, although I'm still not sure whether that created a minor international incident. And let's not overlook one of life's overlooked luxuries: good toilet paper. Overseas, it often had the consistency of wax paper. Some memories never quite fade. Those experiences are humorous now, but they also taught me something important. Serving overseas gives you a deep appreciation for what we have here at home. We enjoy freedoms that millions around the world can only dream about — the freedom to speak our minds, vote, travel, worship, and even disagree with one another without fear. We also tend to take for granted many everyday comforts that are considered luxuries elsewhere. But none of those reasons compare to the real joy of coming home. The photos accompanying this article were taken when I returned from my first Western Pacific deployment. Standing on the pier was my beautiful bride, waiting for me. I still remember the overwhelming happiness I felt the moment I saw her. Nearly five decades later, after 47 years together, I still get that same feeling whenever we've been apart. Many veterans will tell you the same thing. Time apart didn't weaken our relationships, it strengthened them. We learned to cherish every reunion, every embrace, and every ordinary day together. For veterans, coming home is more than the end of a deployment. It's a reminder of why we served in the first place: the people we love, the country we call home, and the simple blessings we appreciate most after we've been without them. Written by Bob Bechill