Bixby Combat Medic Celebrates Return Home

A combat medic is celebrating being back on the home front Tuesday. Private First Class Nicholas Gardner is getting a break from his duties in Afghanistan.

He graduated from Bixby High in 2010, and left two weeks later for basic training.

Mom and Dad couldn't be more excited to see their son. They haven't seen him in almost a year. And Nick is happy to be back on Sooner soil too.

"It kind of fell right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but still, it's nice to be back and see family. You know, I've been over there for seven months, so it's a nice little break," he said.

Nick is looking forward most to some home cooking. His deployment to Afghanistan ends next spring, and then he'll go back to Fairbanks, Alaska, where his unit is stationed.