Service & Sacrifice: A quiet homecoming

For the last couple of weeks hugs, tears and moments of pure joy have filled our screens during a wave of early homecomings for the troops of Tennessee's 278th Armored Calvary Regiment.

But recently our cameras witnessed a homecoming that is far more common for many of our troops returning from missions abroad. The small low-key gathering didn't involve a parade or police escort but it did include long-time friends and the family of an East Tennessee Marine.

Lieutenant Colonel Dean Keck walked into a surprise homecoming party set-up by his sister that included friends he hadn't seen in more than a dozen years.

"The expression on his face, yea he was pretty shocked," said Lt. Col. Keck's best friend from high school Steve Honeycutt.

Keck enlisted in the Marines in 1984. Eleven promotions later this marks his 27th year of service in the Marine Corps. In the last several years he has served two tours in Iraq and anther two in Afghanistan. He only makes it home once or twice a year to Claiborne County.

"I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to draw attention to myself so it is a little uncomfortable for me," said Lt. Col. Keck about the surprise he walked into. He quickly added, "It is a very good feeling."

And in churches, banquet halls and family rooms across East Tennessee those kinds of reunions continue to play out regularly for East Tennessee troops across all military branches  who have spent much of the last decade far from home.