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National Guardsmen return home just in time for the holidays

Posted at 9:45 PM, Dec 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-10 23:45:13-05

SALT LAKE CITY – Sixteen soldiers with the Utah National Guard returned to their home state after a 6-month special mission overseas.

Greeted by their brothers in uniform and their families in tears, 16 soldiers from Utah are going to make it home in time for Christmas. (Due to the sensitivity of their mission, the National Guard asked the media not to show the full faces of these soldiers.)

“We’re just a little bit excited – somebody woke up at 6:30 in the morning and the other one woke up at 7:00, so, yeah, they are super excited,” said Cyndi, the wife of a returning soldier who was waiting with her two sons.

It was a scene of happy reunions, hugging, and tears of joy at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

“So we're fortunate that the deployment cycle worked out so these service members can get home, be with their families for the holidays,” said Command Sargent Major Steven Wooldridge.

These National Guard soldiers are returning from a six month mission overseas.

“It’ll be nice to have daddy home!” Cyndi said.