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Soldier's bittersweet homecoming
Sergeant's father dying of leukemia; visit could be their last time together
BEVERLY HILLS — As bagpipes played, Jerry Maltman wiped away tears.
He had planned for this day, a welcome home for his son, Army Sgt.1st Class Scott Maltman, who has been serving his sixth military deployment, this time in Afghanistan.
He wanted it to be a surprise, with a color guard and fanfare, with neighbors and friends and members of local military organizations.
He wanted it to be perfect.
More than just a homecoming for a returning warrior, this day might be the last time he would see his son.
Jerry Maltman, 66, is dying of an incurable leukemia.
“So, you see, I have a sense of urgency,” he said last week as he was finalizing his plans for his son’s visit to Florida and a surprise welcome home party.
Currently, Scott Maltman is stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., with the Army Reserves and works as a civilian for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
But Jerry Maltman wasn’t the only one with a surprise. Scott had plans of his own — his sister, Vicky Pelchat, who had driven down from Toledo, Ohio, with her daughter and a friend.
The brother and sister had planned since last month to put one over on their dad, and they succeeded. Jerry Maltman had no idea he would see both of his children.
“Now my dad can spend time with each of us,” Scott Maltman said Monday.
“Welcome home, son,” Jerry said, giving Scott a salute, a hug and a kiss as a host of well-wishers in front of Jerry’s Beverly Hills home shared in their moment.
“This is my hero,” Jerry told the crowd.
Scott’s sister also hugged her brother, saying, “I want to thank my hero, too!”
Barbara Mills and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John Stewart of Operation Welcome Home presented Scott with a welcome home basket of gifts and Jerry with a certificate recognizing his outstanding patriotism in flying his flag.
Also, Commissioner John “J.J.” Kenney, in his Marines dress blues, and members of Rolling Thunder welcomed Scott home on behalf of Vietnam War veterans.
Next, Scott climbed up on a platform, took down the American flag his father flies continually each time Scott is deployed, and presented it to his dad.
“The flag goes up when he leaves the country and it doesn’t come down until the day he calls me and says, ‘Dad, I’m home.’ This time, however, might be his last deployment,” Jerry Maltman said. “And this may be the last time he gets to see me alive.”
On Monday, Jerry Maltman said he was overwhelmed with emotion — pride, surprise, love, happiness and a little sadness too.
“I’m so proud of my son,” he said.
When Scott was younger, he worked with his father on a horse farm in Michigan. They sang Barbershop together and were extremely close.
Scott joined the Army in 1996, serving in Korea and also Iraq, two years out of high school. At first he served in a cavalry unit, then as military police, then as a sniper.
“After about 12 or 13 years he told me, ‘Dad, I’m getting tired of killing people,’” Jerry said.
Scott got out of the Army and took a four-year break, then rejoined as an Army reservist. During his most recent deployment, he served as a platoon sergeant at a detective facility in Bagram, Afghanistan.
“I want to thank everyone who came out to support me today, and especially all those who support my dad on a daily basis,” Scott said. “This was way more than I expected. This truly is a hero’s welcome. One thing I ask of you — remember our brothers and sisters who are still over there, the ones who haven’t come home yet.”
Scott’s wife, Deborah, said her husband usually doesn’t cry, but on Monday he came close.
“He didn’t expect this,” she said.
They return to Colorado on Saturday.
“Until then, I’m going to spend as much time as I can with my dad,” Scott said, “and that means the world to me.”
Chronicle reporter Nancy Kennedy can be reached at nkennedy@chronicleonline.com or 352-564-2927.
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Home coming
It's nice to hear a story where it's good news. We hear too many tales of our soldiers being left with life changing injuries. I Pray daily for all servicemen/servicewomen, wherever they may be. They are insuring our freedoms.
So to see him get a hold of his sister, to surprise their Dad. That's a great double surprise.
Thank you for your service, and I wish peace for you in all of your future endeavors.
May GOD hold you, your family, your troops and the rest of the deployed military/civilian contractors.
Have a great time visiting.
~sickofitall
sickofitall