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FORT MYERS, Fla. - An emotional homecoming tonight for a local soldier returning from a deadly mission in Afghanistan.

After a long year overseas, Frank Grimm finally returning home to Fort Myers. Total strangers applauding his arrival but his biggest fan is his wife Erin who met him at Fort Riley in Kansas on the last leg of their trip.

Erin Grimm says, "I'm happy to have him home and it's sad other families didn't get to welcome their soldiers home with ours."

This is the first time Frank has seen his baby boy, Frankie Junior, since he was born six months ago.
Frank says, "It's undescribable.”

When asked what they did when the couple first saw each other, Erin replied, "I cried and he just wanted the baby, he was like give me my son and then gave me a kiss behind the shoulder."

Frank's family is what kept him going in Afghanistan. Seven soldiers in his unit were killed making him even more grateful he made it back. He says, “I know those guys were great guys and if they were asked today if they knew the outcome to go back and do it again I know they'd say yes."

Frank is only here for 30 days and his extended family has no idea. Erin says, "They haven't seen us since he left so we get to go home and surprise our family."

But would the family be home? The family walked up to the front door and little Frankie knocked. The door opened slightly and Frank’s mother-in-law was shocked. She opened the door and families members poured in to greet him. Now they have plenty of catching up to do.

The non-profit corporation, Operation Open Arms, picked Frank's family up at the airport tonight. They will also pay the tab at restaurants while he's here and he will get to drop the first puck at the Everblades hockey game.