Close to 300 families are now reunited with their loved ones, after members of the Central Georgia-based 48th Brigade returned home Wednesday afternoon.
Soldiers from the 148th Brigade Support Battalion based in Forsyth and the Headquarters Company out of Macon were on the flight.
After spending nearly a year oceans apart, only a sea of soldiers stood between Steve Stahl and his wife, Captain Susan Stahl.
More on the 48th Brigade's deployment and mission
She was also deployed to Bosnia in 2001.
Steve Stahl says, "it's been nine years since it happened last time and it's just so much better this time, I've just missed her for the last 7,8,9 months."
The couple from St. Simons navigated through the crowd of anxious family members to find each other.
Susan Stahl said it felt great to be back, and she was glad to have her family there to greet her.
She says it was not hard to find them on the field. "They had a pretty big sign so everyone on my bus saw them before we even pulled up, so it wasn't very hard," Stahl said.
Coco Burdette could not wait to see her mom, Master Sergeant Sylvia Simmons, walk across the field and meet her granddaughter Desiree for the first time.
Simmons says she teared up when she saw her seven-month-old granddaughter.
She says, "It was a journey, to see the good things we were doing over there was amazing."
Burdette says, "I'm just so excited that shes home, it feels great, it's everything you think it would be plus more, I'm just so grateful to have everyone who fought so hard for us back home."
The crowd filled with spirit and emotion as they cheered on their loved ones, including 48th Brigade Commander, Colonel Lee Durham--proud of his unit's mission.
"Afghanistan is the most dangerous it's ever been in the entire war has been this past year, and we were a part of that, and we lost eight great soldiers and I think about those families and pray for them constantly. But for the soldiers that came back we're excited, now they get to spend time with their families and then we'll start training up for whatever the future holds for us," he said.
Durham's family is just as proud and excited to have him back home, and thankful for all the community support.
His wife, Daina Durham, says "we're just happy to be a family again."
Still overwhelmed by the reunion, Steve and Susan Stahl are not sure of their next move.
"No plans," Steve said. "Just relax and be together. I'm so happy, it's wonderful, awesome. Best day."
The soldiers have a day off with their families before reporting for about a week of demobilization.
All 48th Brigade members are now back from their deployment to Afghanistan, except for a small group that will close up operations.
The unit will have a welcome home parade in Macon at the end of July.