On December 23rd, 11 months to the day of their capture, the crew of the PUEBLO walked, one every 15 seconds, across the Bridge of No Return at Panmumjon. Each man was identified by Cdr. Bucher and greeted by General Charles H. Bonesteel, III. They boarded army buses and were taken to a camp on the other side of the DMZ for lunch. When Cdr. Bucher entered the mess hall, his men stood and cheered. After lunch , the PUEBLO crew were taken by Helicopter to the 121st Evacuation Hospital, Seoul Korea where they were given medical attention and an ashtray souvenir. The next day the crew honored Duane Hodges in a memorial service just before they boarded two Starlifter, C-141, aircraft for the flight home. During a refueling stop at 3:00 A. M. on Midway Island, the crew was greeted by Admiral Hyland, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, as heroes. The crew were treated to hamburgers and french fries at the Navy mess. That was surely the best meal the crew had had in nearly a year.

The Starlifters landed at Miramar Naval Air Station near San Diego. As the crew left the planes a band played "The Lonely Bull". The crew were united with their waiting families, and news reporters, Navy representatives and citizens. Home at last!

The men boarded buses with their families and were greeted by cheering, flag waving crowds along their route to the Balbao Naval Hospital. It was a very emotional homecoming for the PUEBLO crew. They were being hailed as heroes.

The Navy had paid for the airfare for the families, and San Diego Chamber of Commerce had raised funds for accommodations for the PUEBLO families. Quite a few restaurants offered free meals to crew members.

Provided by Rose Bucher

During their stay at Balboa Naval Hospital, the men were given medical and psychological examinations and were fortified with vitamins. Physical healing was beginning.
 
Debriefings of crew members were conducted by various groups, including, the National Security Agency, Naval intelligence Command, Marine Corps' Counter intelligence Command, and the Naval Security Group.

This Group Photograph was taken on the Balboa Naval Hospital grounds.