HOMECOMING STORIES

After a nearly three-hour delay and an intentionally short welcome ceremony, families from 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment finally got to dash across the hangar Wednesday to hug the troops: husbands, wives and friends they hadn’t seen in 366 days.

Although the younger children were growing impatient, the delay was forgotten when the hangar doors swung open to a formation of troops in desert camouflage.

As the announcer yelled: “Ladies and gentleman, welcome America’s newest heroes,” family members cheered and whistled from bleachers on the opposite side of the hangar.

Another look at a joyous journey home is here. And another here.