Soldiers return in time for holidays

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - While most of us were sleeping early Saturday morning, nearly 50 members of the National Guard made it home just in time for the holidays.

Around four o'clock Saturday morning, members of the Indiana National Guard based out of Martinsville made it home safely. But for the thousands still in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the funny duo Bob and Tom are trying to make their time in the desert a little funnier.

"My daddy's home. He's been gone for about eight months now, we're glad he's home," Andrew and Bradley Ballard said.

You couldn't tell from the smiles and hugs at Stout Field that's it was so early in the morning. Families, some of whom have waited a year to see loved ones, found it easy to stay up all night.

"The Euphoria that I was going to see wife as I was marching in," Sgt. Don Smith with the Indiana National Guard said.

But the reality is, there are many more who won't make it home this holiday season and that's where the Bob and Tom Show comes in.

"They're bored, they're in danger, and if we can give them anything to give them a quick laugh it's our blessing, it's great for us, it's great for them, and we're very lucky," Tom Griswold of the Bob and Tom Show said.

The two nationally syndicated funny men teamed up with NAPA to create a CD. On it, some of the best comedians in the country. Twenty thousand of the CD's will go to the troops. Bob and Tom are also raising money for the USO so those serving can also get essential care packages.

If you're interested in helping, just go to Bob and Tom's website, when you scroll down you'll see the Greetings from the USA program section and you can donate right there. If you donate just $25, that actually adds up to $75 for a USO care package for someone serving overseas.

In the three years of this Greetings from the USA program, the Bob and Tom Show has raised over 500,000.

Tom was very humble about that figure, and credited their great listeners. The care packages include things like phone cards, toiletries, and a personal thank you.