7 former POWs return to U.S. soil Cheered by crowd as plane lands at Texas base; spirits high

FORT BLISS, Texas--Seven former U.S. prisoners of war returnedhome Saturday to a crowd of flag-waving family and friends, a weekafter they were rescued in Iraq.

Thousands of well-wishers waved flags and cheered as the C-17transport plane landed at Fort Bliss.

Friends and family gathered under the tail of the plane with openarms as the soldiers exited, including Spec. Shoshana Johnson, whohopped on one leg as she was helped onto a golf cart. She was shot inboth ankles by Iraqi fighters.

The cart then took a victory lap in front of the overjoyed crowd.Spec. Joseph Hudson, one of the former POWs, jumped off the cart atone point and said "This is a great country. …