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Corey Kent gets hero's welcome back to SW Florida

Hundreds waiting at airport to welcome wounded veteran

By Colleen Hogan

CREATED Jul. 9, 2011

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  • An injured veteran is finally back home in southwest Florida Saturday. Video by fox4now.com

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A wounded warrior got a hero's welcome home Saturday. PFC Corey Kent of Cape Coral lost both legs and some fingers in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded on him. But after months of rehab, he's finally back home.

Four In Your Corner's Colleen Hogan was there as he got off the plane.
 
Holding signs and American flags, the crowd's waiting to welcome a wounded warrior home.
"There'll be some teary-eyed people here, especially when he comes," Kennedy Richard, a Vietnam veteran, said.
"We just came out here to support him. He's our best friend." Steven Matuska said.
Corey’s plane taxies in and minutes later, Corey appears pushing his own wheelchair up the ramp to see his supporters.
 
"Welcome home, brother. Welcome home!" A supporter yells.
 
Stopping for hugs along the way, the humble hero is a little overwhelmed by his welcome.
 
"I wasn't sure what to expect,” Corey Kent said. “I didn't expect anything like this."
 
"There's a lot of faces that I recognize, a lot that I don’t,” he continued.
 
After everyone got to shake his hand or stop for a picture, Corey left the airport in a donated limo, to a party in his honor at Leapin' Lizards restaurant in Cape Coral.
 
"This is a big surprise,” Kent said.
 
But the surprises don't end at the airport. When Corey gets to his party, there's a new ride waiting for him in the parking lot. A new Ford donated by Sam Galloway Ford, so this twenty-two year old can swap out his wheels and get back to the business of living a normal life, once again.
 
"It means a lot,” Kent said. “It's nice to be home."
 
For more info on how you can help, visit: http://www.usforcesfund.com