Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett "Kekoa" Dow received a hero’s welcome Thursday as he arrived at Kahului Airport following a deployment to Afghanistan that ended when he was wounded in a deadly ambush last month.

Dow, 19, was a month away from completing his tour when he and a group of fellow Marines came under fire during a daytime foot patrol in Musa Qala, a village in northern Helmand province. A member of the Afghan National Army who had joined in the patrol was killed.

Dow, an infantryman and dog handler, was shot in the left shin. With his canine partner still at his side, Dow survived the attack and was later transported to a military hospital in Afghanistan.

After a stint at another military hospital in Germany, he returned to Camp Pendleton, where he had attended boot camp prior to his deployment.

Dow, a 2010 graduate of Baldwin High School, enlisted as a senior in high school. He was deployed with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment, in July and was scheduled to return in March.

Still on crutches, a surprised Dow was greeted at the gate area by a throng of lei-bearing friends and family, including mother Herlynn Scozzafava and younger brothers Kealen, Domenic and Slade, as well as Maui firefighters.

"I’m happy to be back and I’m very appreciative of all the support I’ve been given," Dow said. "I hope that people will continue to pray for all the servicemen and -women who are still out there."

On Saturday, as Dow visited with family and got some much- deserved rest, Scozzafava found herself still searching for the words to describe the relief she felt when she finally held her son in her arms again.

"When I first got the call that he had been shot, my heart just ached for all that he had to go through," she said. "As a parent, you wish that you could take the bullet for them. You wish you could protect them. I’m so grateful that he’s home now. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since he left. Last night, I slept so soundly knowing he was safe."

Scozzafava encouraged others to remain mindful of the fact that there are thousands of families still waiting for their loved ones to return from service. Her older sister, Hervina, echoed the sentiment.

"I’m relieved to have Kekoa home but it’s also a bittersweet feeling," said Hervina Santos. "We’re elated that he’s home but we’re also aware that … other soldiers are still out there. We pray for their safety and hope they can return to their loved ones soon."