Happy reunion as last guard unit returns from Iraq (California National Guard)

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

Kathy Dang, 22, smiled at her cell phone as she read the text from her brother, a combat medic on his way home from Iraq.

"Just landed," she said before she looked up and wiped the corner of her eye. "That means he'll be here in 30 minutes."

Dang was sitting in the National Guard Armory in San Mateo on Friday along with the families of 60 soldiers from California's 297th Medical Company, the state's last guard unit to return from Iraq as troops draw down from the country by Dec. 31.

The celebration arrived at a somber time. More than 15,000 guard soldiers have served in Iraq since 2003 and 26 were killed.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/02/BA2A1M7KFT.DTL

[aquart]

1. Welcome home.

[midnight]

2. Welcome home...

[Tx4obama]

3. Welcome home! I'm glad everyone is coming home in time for the holidays :) n/t

[RebelOne]

4. I will be happy when all our service people are out of Iraq.

I have a bumper sticker ribbon on my car that reads "Out of Iraq." That sticker will stay on my car until the last of our troops come home.

[Raster]

5. Welcome home!

It's been far, far too long.

[earcandle]

6. There should be a bigger celebration about this in the USA. Or am I missing it? Well, your family

have fun. Glad you are reunited.  Thank Gopod!

[Skittles]

8. they don't want anyone asking what we accomplished

where all the money went, and why all those people died

[lonestarnot]

7. Woodamnwhoooo!

:patriot:

[shanti]

9. welcome home

now give them a job!