The bumpy road home from military to civilian

The bumpy road home
By Tony Lascari
12/22/2007
Dan and Sara TerBurgh shook hands, gave hugs and shared stories during a welcome home celebration in August following a several-year long absence from Midland.

The two had dated while attending Midland High School and both graduated in 1998. When Dan pursued a nine-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Sara went with him. After the couple had three children and Dan served two tours of duty in Iraq, they decided it was time to come home.

The readjustment to civilian life hasn’t been easy as Dan waited for a new job, struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and arranged for his family to share a home with his parents.

“We took a big risk getting out of the Marine Corps,” Dan said. “We gave up a lot and we were not used to living with nothing.”

The family’s return to Midland came at the end of July, and an early August welcome home party organized by Sara’s mom gathered dozens of family and friends.

Displays of his military gear, certificates, photos, letters from Sara and a map of missions in Iraq were displayed with honor. Dan’s smile widened as family arrived and he told stories of traveling from southern Iraq to Baghdad as an operations chief of a firing battalion with the 1st Marine Division.

He had joined the Marines right out of high school because he knew he wasn’t ready for college and wanted new experiences that would help him get disciplined.

“I kind of wanted to be a part of something the country was going through,” he said. “I’ll take my Marine Corps experience with me the rest of my life. I learned more there than I ever think I will anywhere else.”
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