As Sgt. Martin May stepped out of the elevator and into the terminal at Denver International Airport, he stopped.
Before him were some buddies from the Colorado National Guard, other friends, the news media and a throng of holiday travelers — some complete strangers — who broke into applause.
“I’m feeling shock and dismay. It shows how many people care. I’m just a lowly sergeant that does his job,” said a humbled May.
The Firestone man is also a sergeant with more to be thankful for than most.
In September, May was shot in the head in Iraq while on patrol as a gunner with the Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery unit.
Despite immediate treatment for his head wound at Balad Air Base in Iraq and follow-up medical treatments at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, May lost his left eye.
But he is grateful to be alive, and the only seriously injured member of his unit.
“I’m the only one who got hurt and I pray no one else does, but if that happens, I’ll be there for them,” May said. “They’re my brothers.”
May volunteered to serve in Iraq and left in June along with the rest of his team, which remains in Ramadi, Iraq. He was scheduled to come home next June before the shooting cut his tour short.
“He is the consummate citizen soldier who volunteers to do things for the community,” said Command Sgt. Major Robert Lawrence, who trained with May.
“He is what we expect of a (non-commissioned officer) — and he’s a great guy,” Lawrence added.
May’s family stood out Wednesday among the crowd at DIA.
His wife, Wendy, wore a black T-shirt inscribed in yellow, “Proud wife of Sgt. Martin May.”
His sons, Dillon, 15 months, and Dakota, 12, were in similar shirts, as was his daughter, Chelsea, 9.
Officials allowed them to meet May at the gate for a private family reunion before he was swallowed by the crowd in the terminal.
“I’m trying to hold it all together. My kids are full of questions, and when we get settled in, I’ll ask, ‘What’s the new norm?” said Wendy May.
May’s children hadn’t seen their father since June when he was deployed overseas, but they kept in touch with him by seeing and talking to him via Skype, an Internet-based telephone service.
May, a commercial truck driver in civilian life, wept when he saw his wife and children waiting for him, Wendy said.
“Thanksgiving is about our family and being together,” the sergeant said.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
