Lance Corporal Joshua Brubaker was all smiles as he rolled into Bakersfield Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people waited for hours at Meadows Field Airport to welcome him home.
"I’m just ecstatic,” says Veronica Slanton, who’s know Joshua for 10 years. “Coming in, there were cowboys and horses and the firefighters and the motorcycle escorts, it's just awesome."
Joshua was greeted with hugs and handshakes. There were so many, he could barely move. Before Joshua got off the plane, airport security urged the crowd to make room, but it was tough for many to stay back.
This is Joshua’s first time home as a double-amputee. He lost his legs in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in June.
“We were all devastated and it was hard at first,” says Wendy Bennett, who was homeschooled with Joshua and his brothers in Bakersfield. "His recovery is going to take a long time, but he's been really tough and he's been making a really strong recovery so far."
Through the airport doors, hundreds more greeted Joshua. The support was overwhelming.
“I want to say thank you guys for this,” Joshua said. “I was not expecting all of Bakersfield to be here, but thanks so much."
Joshua hasn't been home since February. He's been undergoing therapy at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland.
“It feels great honestly, I mean it's been almost a year since I’ve actually been back to my house, so it'll be nice to get some time off, a break for once.”
Joshua says he will take the time to spend with those he misses most.
"I can’t want to play with my dog and go pet my horse," he says.
Joshua doesn't know about the special wheelchair accessible room that's being added to his family's house. His family says it should be finished by the Spring.
For now, his friends are elated, he's back.
"Of course he does have to go back to Walter reed after his leave, he only has a leave block, he's still in the Marine Corps,” says Casey Schaubschlager, a close friend and fellow marine. “He still has to be a marine till he's out, but it's nice to see him come and go, and get this for him, it's going to do well for his spirits."
Joshua was out of words when he tried to thank the huge crowd.
"It's a great feeling, really thank you guys,” he says. “I can't even express my feelings."
"I’m just ecstatic,” says Veronica Slanton, who’s know Joshua for 10 years. “Coming in, there were cowboys and horses and the firefighters and the motorcycle escorts, it's just awesome."
Joshua was greeted with hugs and handshakes. There were so many, he could barely move. Before Joshua got off the plane, airport security urged the crowd to make room, but it was tough for many to stay back.
This is Joshua’s first time home as a double-amputee. He lost his legs in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in June.
“We were all devastated and it was hard at first,” says Wendy Bennett, who was homeschooled with Joshua and his brothers in Bakersfield. "His recovery is going to take a long time, but he's been really tough and he's been making a really strong recovery so far."
Through the airport doors, hundreds more greeted Joshua. The support was overwhelming.
“I want to say thank you guys for this,” Joshua said. “I was not expecting all of Bakersfield to be here, but thanks so much."
Joshua hasn't been home since February. He's been undergoing therapy at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland.
“It feels great honestly, I mean it's been almost a year since I’ve actually been back to my house, so it'll be nice to get some time off, a break for once.”
Joshua says he will take the time to spend with those he misses most.
"I can’t want to play with my dog and go pet my horse," he says.
Joshua doesn't know about the special wheelchair accessible room that's being added to his family's house. His family says it should be finished by the Spring.
For now, his friends are elated, he's back.
"Of course he does have to go back to Walter reed after his leave, he only has a leave block, he's still in the Marine Corps,” says Casey Schaubschlager, a close friend and fellow marine. “He still has to be a marine till he's out, but it's nice to see him come and go, and get this for him, it's going to do well for his spirits."
Joshua was out of words when he tried to thank the huge crowd.
"It's a great feeling, really thank you guys,” he says. “I can't even express my feelings."