WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fourth District Congressman Bill Huizenga says his son is back home from Israel this week, along with several other Americans, following an evacuation.
Huizenga said on West Michigan's Morning News that his second-oldest son, Adrian, was studying for a Master's degree when the attack on Israel occurred.
"We were working with just trying to figure out how to keep him safe first, initially. And, obviously, my office was getting calls from constituents who needed help. And we were trying to work with the State Department, etcetera," he said.
The Republican Representative reached out several days ago to Florida Congressman Cory Mills, a military veteran who helped get troops out of Afghanistan a couple years ago. Huizenga asked Mills how bad the situation was and what his assessment was on the ground in Israel.
"And he said to me, 'Bill, this is going to go south very quickly.' And I told him that Adrian was there, and his immediate reaction was, 'I will get him out. We need to get him out,'" Huizenga said.
Adrian remained calm throughout the evacuation process.
"It was interesting talking to Cory once we finally got back here to Washington. And he said, "You know, your son's a pretty cool cucumber. He was just rolling with it and good to go. We gave him the information, he wasn't freaking out."
President Biden has said it appears a rocket blast that killed hundreds at a hospital in Gaza was misfired by Palestinian militants.
"It's that kind of thing that just lights the tinder box in that area. So, we're very thankful that Adrian is home," Huizenga said.
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