Iraq war veteran home two years after his brother's death

Nancy Ramos hasn't slept well this past week.

The Aurora mom has tossed and turned each night, imagining the moment when she'd finally be able to again hug her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Noah Ramos.

That moment came Thursday, as Noah returned home for the first time since the February 2005 funeral of his brother, Lance Cpl. Hector Ramos.

And Nancy knows her oldest son's arrival was nothing short of a miracle.

"It's a blessing," she said. "You can imagine. Today is my Christmas."

Noah Ramos, 24, who served in Iraq and most recently was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, will be home for a month before starting his second tour.

He said he was shocked by the homecoming, which included school and city leaders along with his mom, his wife, Fatima, and his 15-year-old brother, Isiah.

"It caught me off guard," he said. "It was a great thing."

Noah was escorted to his alma mater, East Aurora High School, where he visited his younger brother's memorial.

Hector was 21 at the time of his death in a helicopter crash in Iraq in early 2005.

Noah, who was injured this past summer but has since recovered, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004.

As kids, Hector and Noah always talked of enlisting in the Marines, Nancy said. After Hector died, Nancy told Noah it was his choice to continue serving.

"I told him he wasn't less or more of a man if he stayed or went," she said.

He chose to stay.

"My brother did not die for me to quit," Noah said at his brother's funeral. "I love you man, and I'll keep the fight going on for you."

Nancy said she couldn't be more proud of her son. As soon as she saw him at the airport, she ran toward him, screaming and crying, as others looked on.

"I couldn't contain myself," she said. "I made a big scene, but I didn't care."

The family spent their first night together celebrating and eating.

"(I'm) hugging him until his eyes pop out," Nancy said, "and making him his favorite dish -- enchiladas and rice."