160 National Guardsmen Return Home From Iraq

By: Jon Paepcke/NBC 13 | Alabama's13.com
Published: May 22, 2008

CULLMAN, Ala. --- For Amanda Gates, this day couldn't come soon enough.

Six month old daughter Kira was born while her father was flying into German and Gates said raising a newborn while your husband is away at war is challenging.

“It's really hard but we just have to think positive and have a lot of strength and when they come home that's the best feeling ever, when they come home safe,” Gates said.

That's why gates joined a handful of other wives at this Cullman exit ramp with bundles of balloons today.

They wanted to welcome 160 National Guardsmen home from Iraq the minute they rolled into town.

The main homecoming took place at the Cullman County Fairgrounds.

Despite nearly 230 combat missions and nearly one hundred enemy attacks, Company C of the 1st, 167th Infantry finished their mission without any casualties.

“The things that are important today they are home and they are safe,” Brigadier General Wendell McLain told the troops.

Then it was time for the embrace Amanda Gates had been waiting on.

Specialist Justin Gates said his wife's helium filled greeting caught him by surprise.

“I saw her out throwing the balloons and I almost cried so,” Gates commented.

Then we asked him what it meant to hold his six month old daughter.

“Feels great. I missed her so much,” the Specialist told us with tears in his eyes.

Everywhere you looked this afternoon you saw hugs and snapshots of joyful moments these families will never forget.

“Too many emotions. Too many emotions. We're just glad he's home,” Amanda Gates concluded.

Now he can focus on a new mission: making up for six months of diaper-changing.

160 National Guardsmen Return Home From Iraq

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