SOUTH BEND — Just before noon Tuesday, a week before Christmas, all Kathy Marek wants this year is about to arrive at the airport.

“I think she’s excited. She’s been crying all morning,” said friends on hand with Marek. After 15 months at war, her 21-year-old son is coming home.

“He was in the line of action,” Marek said, “I mean, they were in it … [but soon] we’ll get to see him and hug him and know he’s home for the holidays … I’m so proud of him.”

So are the dozens of family members and friends who’ve gathered at the airport to welcome Specialist Michael Marek home. Chief among them, are the family patriarchs — his two grandfathers who also know battle.

“I went in on D Day, June 6th, of 1944,” said 84-year-old Frank Marek. It’s hard to explain to people how bad it is unless you were there,”

Before his grandson left, Marek gave him the rosary he kept in his pocket on the beach at Normandy more than six decades earlier.

“And I said, ‘You better bring that back to me.’ He hasn’t yet, but I’m going to get it back,” said Marek with a smile.

At just about five minutes past noon, more family began to gather along with more friends and more excitement that was too difficult to contain. Kathy Marek’s legs shook.

Finally, their pride and joy, dressed in full uniform, walked into the terminal, smiling, walking briskly to hug his family. For the Mareks, Christmas came early.

“I got the surprise of my life. The whole family here!” exclaimed Spc. Marek. “It’s the first time back together with everybody and I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas.”

Marek will be in South Bend for the next two weeks before heading back to his base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He may be deployed to Iraq again in the future.