You could feel the excitement in the air at Cottrell Field, as friends and family waited anxiously to see their loved ones after such a long time apart.
The 79 soldiers from the 24th Financial Management Company returned to Georgia after 15 months in Baghdad and central Iraq.
Marcella, Isabella, and Gabby Arguello say it seems like ages since their dad was home with them.
"It's hard doing things, because he's in my mind but he's gone so I really miss him, so sometimes during school I start to cry," says 9 year-old Isabella.
"He went last time for a year, so I was a little concerned because I didn't want anything to happen to him, because it was our second time, but he's ok now," says Gabby, 15.
"I'm very excited!" declares 5 year-old Marcella.
Gabbie Arguello says her husband Carlos has been in the army for 16 years.
"Hard now because they're older, so they notice that he's gone more and since they're older there's a lot more to do when you're by yourself," she says.
The Arguellos were among the dozens of friends and family, holding signs and waving flags, waiting for their heroes to come home.
Finally, the returning soldiers march into sight, and then it's time for the hugs and kisses they've missed for the past 15 months.
"Six months here, 12 months there, and it's just 15 is just the top, its just entirely too much, but hey, we made it, I'm back with the family. I'm very happy," says Staff Sergeant Carlos Arguello, who's been deployed to Iraq twice.
"The first time was really what I thought it was going to be like. This one, it was not easy, but it was better than the last time," he says.
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