Community Greets Family Home After Syria Ordeal

A Family's Journey Home from Conflict in Syria

A local family has finally returned to the United States after being caught in the midst of violent conflict in Syria. Desiree Gomez, her husband, and their 18-month-old child arrived at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, greeted by loved ones and members of the school community she serves. The emotional moment was marked by the family being wrapped in an American flag as they stepped off the plane.

Gomez and her family had been visiting relatives when fighting broke out around them. They were initially in the middle of a city for about three or four days during the conflict. As the situation worsened, they moved to what they believed was a safe location—though it was surrounded by dangerous areas.

The family reached out to relatives in the U.S. for help, as organizing their own rescue in the middle of such chaos proved nearly impossible. “It’s kind of difficult to organize your own kind of rescue in the middle of mortars and things blasting all around you,” Gomez explained.

A nonprofit organization called Grey Bull Rescue, which specializes in high-risk humanitarian operations, launched a complex mission to bring the family out of the conflict zone. Using passwords, coded communication, and secret routes, the group successfully extracted the family from the dangerous area.

Bryan Stern, founder of Grey Bull Rescue, described the mission as highly delicate. “We start working the streets, and basically what we have to do is build a mousetrap in such a way where we can guarantee safety of these Americans who are stuck,” he said. “As the crow flies, not far. But the route that we have to take is going to be four or five, six hours of time through multiple different areas controlled by multiple different groups. This is very delicate stuff. This is pick-up sticks.”

Though Grey Bull has operated in Syria before, this mission was particularly challenging. “This part of the world we’re very familiar with — joke’s on us, wasn’t so simple,” Stern said. He added that the sectarian violence in the region was on a “medieval scale” and that the latest round of violence was characterized by “absolute murder.”

Armed militias, including ISIS-affiliated groups, had taken control of the area, cutting off communication and flooding the streets with gunfire. Gomez recounted the tense moments of waiting for the rescue team to arrive. “Whenever we would get communication, they would say, ‘Okay, we’re coming. You ready?’ And we’re ready,” she said. “And then it wasn’t working out on their end for safety reasons or whatever. And then, ‘Be ready, be ready.’ And then finally, we were ready and we left. And it was swift and dangerous. But we’re here — so that’s what matters.”

Upon returning home, the family was met with overwhelming emotions. Gomez, an assistant principal at Lyman Elementary School, was welcomed by students, coworkers, and loved ones. Her mother, Dena Erickson, described the experience as something out of a movie. “They were able, when they had a window, and they were able to go in and actually start the move for the rescue,” she said. “We were given instructions — no phone usage at all. That was probably the most difficult part of this journey. But we’re just excited, and I just — I can’t wait to see my baby.”

The family expressed gratitude for being home and excitement about reuniting with their children. Their rescue mission also received support from the offices of U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott.

The return of the family highlights the dangers faced by civilians caught in conflict zones and the critical role of organizations like Grey Bull Rescue in bringing people to safety. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation and the strength of community support during times of crisis.