Before 38-year-old Kurtis Brader was called up from the reserves and deployed to Iraq, he had three jobs, including one at Hilltop Manor, to make ends meet and save money to buy a home. At Hilltop Manor—an independent senior living facility—Brader's job was serving lunch and dinner.

But his duties at Hilltop, were he's worked since 1999, were put on hold when he was called to duty in Iraq on April 18. He is a logistics officer with San Jose's 81st military police, and his assignment took him to Camp Ashraf, located 135 miles northeast of Baghdad.

He says the camp is "very primitive." The 300 people living at the camp sleep in tents and had to create their own electricity, which doesn't always work properly.

He will be in Iraq until the end of March, when his tour of duty is scheduled to end. He says he's eager to permanently return to the United States.

"Just to have electricity on consistently and hot water available is a miracle," Brader told a large crowd assembled at Hilltop Manor's third-floor dining hall. "And, it's a miracle to be away from those sandstorms. Now while I'm back, I've got to do my 2002 taxes before I go back on Jan. 23."

He came to the dining hall on Jan. 14 to visit his friends and serve them lunch, picking up where he left off with his former waiter duties, even though the celebratory lunch was actually held in his honor. A long line quickly formed in front of the buffet, and Brader stood at the forefront, receiving hugs and kind words from Hilltop residents.

He told the seniors that he is grateful for all the care packages that have been sent to him. Each week, he says, he would receive at least one package that contained something special like home-baked brownies and See's candy.

"Thank you for all your support, your letters and your packages," he says. "We're doing a lot of hard work for our nation and for the health of the Iraqi people."

Hilltop resident Dorothy Carauddo couldn't stop smiling while talking about Brader. She says she's known him for years and is glad to see him back in the dining facility..

"I hope he's safe over there," she says. "He is such a pleasant young man. He looks really healthy and has become such a fine young person."

Virginia Schroder, 74, says that while Brader was in Iraq, she looked forward to receiving his letters, which were read at meetings for everyone to hear. Schroder was part of a small group of women at Hilltop who mobilized residents to send letters and care packages to Brader.

"Quite a few of us sent him Christmas cards and sent him some things he can't get there, like nuts and baked goods," she says.

Beth Lathrop says she is proud of the work Brader is doing overseas and was thrilled to see him again.

"I think he is such a wonderful person—he's doing such a noble thing," the 85-year-old resident says.

The unexpected luncheon reception was a bit overwhelming for Brader, but he took it all in stride, bowing his head and thanking everyone for their kind words, letters and packages.

He also told the crowd that when he returns from Iraq and completes the debriefing process he plans to return to San Jose and Hilltop Manor. He thinks that will happen by May.

"I'm eternally grateful and thank you all so much for everything," he said, in a room where the American flag had been hung in his honor and red, white and blue were the colors of the hour.