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Marine vet arrives home after months in Mexican prison

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    Steve Harrigan reports from Palmetto Bay, Florida

  • Duration 3:20
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Here's some good news for the Christmas holiday a former marine that was locked up in Mexico he's back home now with his family tonight after he endured months behind bars.

John -- ordeal began back in August when he was entering Mexico with his buddy in route to a surfing trip in Costa Rica.

His friend says have a told US border officials in Texas that he wanted to take -- and his great grandfathers and T gotten.

And that those officials told hammer no problem but when he got to Mexico border agents locked him up on.

Violation charges of the country's strict gun laws and since then his parents and lawmakers have been working feverishly.

To get him out.

Well on Friday this marine who served us in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And also suffers from post traumatic stress disorder finally walked free.

He and his dad drove a rental car from the border back to Florida and just hours ago after they arrived home in -- -- bay.

Steve Harrigan was live there and had a chance to talk to the dad.

Steve how's the family doing tonight.

Jamie we got to see John -- -- pull up with his father after this long ordeal they drove directly.

Into the garage John hammer is now suffering from some sort of stomach ailment he picked up inside that Mexican prison.

They actually had to make a stop on the drive home from the border at a Louisiana hospital.

And John -- spotter says his son is so weak he can barely stand but despite that he says this will be the greatest Christmas their family has ever had.

I get him in the car and I think.

The US consulate guys and we took off and made a beeline to.

San Pedro island and spent the night there Johnny.

Thought obviously since nine -- up in the morning and want to.

The beach and watch the sun come up.

Be really tough time for your.

-- -- should -- no problem this is a great right now I'm glad to be talked into it about.

About that it's over with.

You could just see the tears in his father's eyes the mood around the house today really not one of celebration.

-- really one of exhaustion and a sense of relief that this four month ordeal is finally over Jamie.

But for many of us who respect the contribution he made in serving in Iraq and Afghanistan we don't understand why it took so long.

For him to get free for months he was -- to that bed with handcuffs.

That's right the family initially try to low key approach really trying to work behind the scenes to free their son.

It was only after that failed -- they tried to exert some public pressure appearing on TV.

And also enlisting the help.

Of their congresswoman Ileana Ross -- and.

This is a family of strong Christian faith.

And so for them as we celebrate the birth of Christ said tonight what.

More meaningful up present then then that.

Then they got delivering their son to them tonight.

That John was not able to retrieve that single shot sixty year old rifle that belong to his.

Great grandfather or the Winnebago with the nine custom surf boards inside the the Stanley says they're just happy John made it home for Christmas.

They expect their properly property eventually to be returned also -- back to you all right Steve thanks so much a happy ending there.

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