GROVES — As a PN-G graduate, he missed the 2006 Homecoming game and will be gone again before the big Mid-County Madness game this week, but Airman First Class Adam Foret is just glad to be back on American soil.

After a year and a half in England and four months in Iraq, Foret’s been back in Texas since Sunday and has been spending time relaxing with friends and family. The United States Air Force firefighter won’t rest long as he leaves Friday for Napa Valley, California where he will be based at the Travis Air Force Base. Before leaving, the Groves Fire Department wanted to make sure Foret knew how appreciative they were of his service to the USA.

At a surprise ceremony on Thursday afternoon last week at the Groves Fire Station, the fire department and Mayor Brad Bailey presented Airman Foret with a plaque thanking him for his service for the cause of freedom.

The ceremony was a special treat for Foret’s father, Billy Foret, a veteran Groves firefighter, and Foret’s grandparents.

“He’s our only grandson and we are so happy to have him back in the States,” his grandmother, Nita Foret, said.

Foret couldn’t be happier to be back home, but the airman looks forward to getting back to work as a fireman.

“My dad’s a fireman and it feels good to follow in his footsteps,” he said.

The Air Force works on a 19-month rotation, so Foret has 15 months left before he can be sure he won’t get sent back to Iraq.