U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John S. was injured in a drone strike in January 2024. Following his injury, he underwent demobilization and was assigned to the Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he received ongoing assessments and treatment as he worked toward being deemed fit for duty.

The road to recovery came at a personal cost. Between pre-deployment training, deployment, and post-deployment rehabilitation, John had been separated from his wife and two young children—both under the age of six at the time—for more than 15 months.

After months of recovery, John had one wish: to spend meaningful time with his family. Thanks to the generosity of Luke’s Wings’ donors, his wish became a reality. Through our No Service Member Spends The Holidays Alone campaign, Luke’s Wings flew John home to Phoenix twice during the 2024 holiday season—once for Thanksgiving and again for Christmas—allowing him to reunite with his wife and children, and create precious memories together after more than a year apart.

For John, those trips were more than flights home; they were an opportunity to reconnect with his family, whose love and support motivated him throughout his recovery journey.

June 26, 2026