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USMC Cpl Nick Sowers landed at Piedmont Triad International Airport on Saturday Apr 2, probably expecting only family and friends to greet him. But stepping off the plane, he heard the public address system announce 'We'd like to welcome home U.S. Marine Nick Sowers from Iraq', and

Just past the security checkpoint, more than 50 people were waving American flags, holding up welcome home signs and singing the Marine Corps Hymn.

Nick Sowers was enveloped by the crowd. There were tears and shouts from those who knew him best and those who were just passing by.

Everyone wanted a moment with the Marine in his crisp dress blues and regulation haircut.

They said: "Nice to meet you." "You look good." "Welcome home." "He looks like his daddy." "Thank you for all you've done."

From Iraqi sands to loving arms in the Greensboro, NC, News & Record, written by Allison Perkins, who can be emailed at aperkins@news-record.com.

Cpl Somers wrote about the firefight in which their Humvee was destroyed, Lance Cpl Julio C. Cisneros Alvarez was killed, and in which Cpl Somers was wounded, at Almost killed: Soldier writes about deadly battle in Iraq, also in the News & Record.

Images of Cpl Somers, the Humvee and Lance Cpl Cisneros Alvarez:

    

Cpl Somers was awarded the Purple Heart after the firefight and might head back to Iraq. For now, he's on a three week leave, after which he'll rejoin his unit at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA (sometimes called 'Twentynine Stumps' or 'the Stumps').