The Alsip sailor received a hero's welcome from his hometown at VFW Post 450. His father, James, is a Vietnam vet. With a big welcome home, he hopes history will be written differently for his son.
"They deserve it," said James Thomas, Kevin's father.
Kevin has served two tours, one in Iraq and most recently in Afghanistan. He's witnessed things he chooses not to talk about it.
He said all of the attention Friday is a bit unnerving.
"It's a little more than I wanted," Navy Corpsman Kevin Thomas said. "But it's all right."
Kevin has another year and a half with the Navy.
For now it's time to celebrate.
"It was a long time waiting to have a child and now I am just so proud of everything he does," said Sharon Thomas, Kevin's mother.
