Hundreds of families flooded Fort Stewart early Tuesday morning to welcome home members of the Central Georgia-based 48th Brigade.
Hugs, kisses and cheers filled the air at Fort Stewart as families reunited with their heroes around 12:30 a.m.
For Specialist Jarvis Washington, the homecoming was overwhelming. "I've been waiting on it for the past ten months, since the first day I got in the country I just kept telling myself just make it like this for 300 more days and I'll make it home, and I'm finally here."
Washington is from Macon, and says he now looks forward to the everyday things like spending time with his son.
His mother Tracie Washington says she's just glad to have her son back safely. "Just hearing him call me Mama, that's all I want," she says.
Families began the early morning sitting anxiously in the bleachers, but as their soldiers emerged through the trees, they couldn't hold back the excitement.
It's a moment the Jordan family of Milledgeville says took too long to get here.
"I'm just glad it's over," says Renee Jordan. "I can't really believe it, but I'm glad it's over."
Her husband Sergeant First Class Richard Jordan says he missed his family most of all, and watching his kids grow up.
The couple's son Zachary says it's been a long wait. "It's great to have him back home."
They plan to take a vacation and spend time together as a family, now that dad is back home.
As troops carried out their final mission--finding their families--it was a moment Captain Darryl Griffing will never forget. "Very emotional of course, very excited to be home," he says. "Three little ones, this is the first time I've been away from them for this long so, glad to be back, proud of what I did, and just good to be back on Georgia soil."
Griffing says he looks forward to getting back to his civilian job as a firefighter with the Atlanta Fire Department.
And for Sergeant First Class Matthew Hanson and his family, feeling the warmth of 5-year-old Jacob's hug made it all worthwhile.
His wife, Heather Hanson, says she is glad to have her husband back home, so they can move on to the next chapter in their lives.
More than 200 families reunited early Tuesday, ready to make up the time they spent apart.
About 140 soldiers were part of the 148th Brigade Support Battalion based in Forsyth, and about 60 of them were based in Macon.
The soldiers will spend Tuesday with their families, then report back for about a week of demobilization.
Another flight with more than 200 members of the Central Georgia units is scheduled to arrive Wednesday.