Merrill Newman, the U.S. veteran who was detained in North Korea for a few weeks, has returned home safely to his wife in California. The 85-year-old smiled for photographers and spoke of turning down a ride on Air Force Two, courtesy of Vice President Joe Biden, in order to get home to his wife in a more timely manner.

Held for war crimes he supposedly committed during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, Newman had to read a confession that clearly wasn’t his own creation in order to help facilitate his release. In it he purportedly apologized for killing North Koreans during the war.

“I’m delighted to be home,” Merrill Newman said upon his arrival in San Francisco. “It’s been a great homecoming. I’m tired, but ready to be with my family.”

Newman’s release and subsequent arrival back on U.S. soil was the subject of a wealth of tweets

MERRILL NEWMAN Sir welcome home may God Bless you and your family have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year

— AppSame (@AppSame) December 7, 2013

US vet Merrill Newman, 85, home from North Korea

— Darcy Overstreet (@DarcyOverstreet) December 8, 2013

US vet Merrill Newman, 85, home from North Korea

— Ramon Savino (@ramonsav) December 8, 2013

Merrill Newman thanked several groups instrumental in his release from North Korea, including the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China.

While it’s absolutely appalling that North Korea would detain an 85-year-old man with health issues, it is certainly good news that Merrill Newman is safely home on U.S. soil. The U.S. veteran will likely be the subject of many interviews in the coming days, following what will probably be some pretty serious debriefing by the U.S. Government.

Image via YouTube