A 2006 McCutcheon Graduate has just returned home after serving eight months overseas. Aric Hackler is a Marine who has been serving in Iraq. For Hackler's family, having him back safely is the best gift they could have received.

"I was so excited because I haven't seen him in a long time and I've been looking at his picture in my room and I've been looking at it everyday thinking I can't wait for you to come home, I can't wait for you to come home," said Hackler's younger sister Mariah.

Hackler's step-dad Eric said, "Just thinking and seeing him alive is such a big relief and we're so overjoyed to see him its unbelievable."

Marine Lance Corporal Aric Hackler is a helicopter mechanic stationed at an Air Force base in Iraq. Hackler says although the air base is safe, it is in the middle of an area with heavy fighting. "Anytime we hear that horn go off, we have to send out some helicopters to go help them out we all know that something's going on out there."

Hackler says he is happy to be back, but it has been difficult adjusting to life away from the war zone. "Just how you talk to people is a little bit different. You don't quite know what to say I mean you've been gone for so long I mean people change, lives don't go on pause while you're over there so there's a lot to talk about, but you can't really find the right direction to talk about."

Hackler says he thinks U.S. Troops are making more progress in Iraq than may people realize. "People are really starting to except us there and are grateful and very helpful with us trying to complete our mission trying to help them become a better nation."

Hackler is not home permanently. His family says although it is hard to think of saying good-bye again, they are trying to enjoy the time they have. "Just love him while he's here and love him while he's gone too," said Mariah.

Hackler expects to be deployed back to Iraq or Afghanistan in September of next year and will be training at Camp Pendleton in California for the majority of that time. Aric's mother Michelle says she's so happy he's home, she'll make him whatever he wants for Thanksgiving Dinner.

What a great Thanksgiving Day it will be in Indiana this week.

Congratulations to the Collins/Hackler family and to the Domko's.

You can write to Darrin and Keri at darrin.domko@us.army.mil

You can write to Michelle Collins at morecollins1@insightbb.com