Sunday morning John Yettaw stepped off a United States government airplane in Bangkok ,once again a free man.

At his side was U.S. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia who secured Yettaw's release in a first time meeting with Myanmar's reclusive general Than Shwe.

"I feel fortunate that the government honored my request to allow him to come back here to Thailand with me," said Webb.

Yettaw of Falcon, Missouri was arrested in May after he swam to the lake house of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was on strict house arrest.

Back in Missouri,  Yettaw's home sits vacant, deserted, and lined with no trespassing signs.

Neighbors who know Yettaw would only comment to say that he's a good man, and an intelligent one.

Yettaw said in the past he visited Suu Kyi's house because of a vision that she was at risk of harm from assassins.

Even Senator Webb defends his actions.

"I believe what he did was regrettable.  I believe it was hurtful to the person he was trying to help.  I don't think he's a mean spirited human being," said Webb.

Just last week Yettaw was sentenced to seven years of hard labor for assisting Suu Kyi in breaking the terms of her house arrest.

Webb asked Myanmar officials to release Suu Kyi, who he visited briefly as a way to pay his respects to her efforts in the cause of democracy.

That attempt was denied, but Webb says the release of Yettaw is a good move by the country.

"This was a good gesture from the government of Myanmar that we should be grateful for, and hopefully build upon," said Webb.

Yettaw, who reportedly suffers from diabetes, epilepsy and asthma will be treated at a hospital in Thailand before coming back to America.

As for Suu Kyi, her sentence was lessened to 18 more months of house arrest.

Senator Webb is set to meet with Secretary of State Clinton when he returns to discuss the situation in Myanmar. 

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