More than 300 marines and sailors are back home after a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were welcomed home by hundreds of family members and friends waiting anxiously on the tarmac at MCAS Miramar.
"It's exciting, nervous, just all of these emotional feelings going on right now. So it feels great. It feels great that he's home," said the wife of Staff Sergeant Michael Finley as she waited for him.
The marines and sailors arrived in two waves via commercial airliner. They were greeted with cheers, hugs, and kisses. And for many, it will be an adjustment being back home.
"Before I left, she couldn't talk, she couldn't crawl, she couldn't walk," said Cpl. Everett Powell, as he clutched his young daughter. "Now she does all of that. It's going to take a lot of getting used to.
Many in the group said they had no plans for Super Bowl Sunday. They were just happy to be home.
"No plans at all. I'm just going to see how it goes, get back into things with the sleep schedule and just take it easy," said Staff Sergeant Michael Finley.
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