Brockton Soldier Returns Home For Thanksgiving
BROCKTON (CBS) - A local soldier who spent the last year in Afghanistan is headed home just in time for Thanksgiving.
Three days ago Jessica Dos Anjos didn't know her husband SPC Diclecio Dos Anjos would be sharing Thanksgiving dinner until she got the call his unit arrives home on the holiday, ahead of schedule.
"That was awesome. I was actually sick at the time and it made me 100 percent better right away to know he's coming," said Dos Anjos.
The family had said goodbye to Diclecio, a combat medic with the Massachusetts National Guard last November.
From their Brockton home, his daughter, 9-year-old Vanessa and his son, 12-year -old Adilson were preparing t "welcome home" signs for the man they call their hero.
"I'm really proud because he came home safely," said Adilson Dos Anjos.
To call it a day of thanksgiving is an understatement for the family.
Declecio has been on assignment with the 182nd Engineer Company detecting and defusing IED's, or bombs on sensitive routes, earning a purple heart for an injury when one exploded.
"That was surreal," said Jessica. "You kind of have to not dwell on it, you have to stay busy."
There have been letters to keep her focused on the positive.
Now focused on the reunion and preparing a homecoming is the most positive of all.
"I've gone over it in my head saying he better be the first one off the bus," she said. "I've had five hours of sleep in the past couple of days. I don't know what I'm running on."
Eighty soldiers are expected home in two separate ceremonies in Florence and Newburyport Thursday.
