Soldiers come home after one year

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - More Indiana soldiers are finally home nearly a year after being deployed to Afghanistan. Around 170 troops from the 381st and 387th Military Police Companies arrived Thursday afternoon.

Before the soldiers arrived emotions started bubbling. 

One anxious mother wiped away tears and whispered, “Just get them off the buses.”

Retired veteran Andrew Greenlee has been patiently waiting for the safe arrival of his children.

“I played the role as parent now instead of soldier. It drove me nuts for one year. I've been highly stressed for a year,” Greenlee said.

Both of his sons left for Afghanistan in January. Their mission, along with the other soldiers was to provide security.

The soldiers missed Thanksgiving but they’re home earlier than expected.

As the reunions happened, the tears flowed as one mother held her two-year-old daughter closely, repeatedly kissing her daughter’s cheek.

The soldiers were thankful for the outpouring of support.

“I got little butterflies in my stomach when we turned and faced the crowd and everybody ran toward us,” Specialist Corey Greenlee said. “It was excitement.”

And gratitude. Some wore t-shirts with the message "he's not just my brother, he's my hero.”

“It's a little overwhelming,” Specialist Tyler Greenlee said. “A lot of people. This is my first deployment. (It is) just overwhelming with all the people congratulating us and shaking our hands for our service.”

Some of the families who were present when this unit deployed 11 months ago didn’t show up Thursday. Their loved ones didn't survive.

Indeed, this unit is home just in time for Christmas, a special moment other families long for.

“I'm the proudest dad in the world right now,” Andrew Greenlee said while bracing both of his sons.