WILLIAMSTOWN - "Well done, welcome home, dismissed."
These were the words soldiers of the 131st Transportation Company based in Williamstown and their loved ones waited to hear from First Sgt. Michael Barnes all morning and since their departure on a rainy day Nov. 30, 2010.
The company, which deployed to Afghanistan, served as a medium trucking company in charge of supply transportation and convoy security, using Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs, and tractor trailers.
Leading up to the heartfelt arrival Saturday, hundreds began gathering at the Williamstown Armory, 9207 Route 209, from early in the morning.
Relatives and friends made signs and brought flags, some were even hung in Tower City, so the soldiers would see them as they made their way to Williamstown.
Jenn Dechert, Lebanon, who was waiting for her husband, Spc. Brad Dechert, with their two-year-old daughter, Mady, said she was waiting since 8:30 a.m. and had not slept in about four days.
Dechert said that they have been married for three years and this was the first time they were apart, so it was especially hard caring for a young child by herself.
Although their daughter was only one year old when he left, Dechert said they would talk to her husband often on Skype over the computer and Mady would run to the computer as soon as she heard the ring tone.
When Brad Dechert came home in August for rest and relaxation, she was afraid Mady wouldn't know who he was, but at the airport, she ran right to him and wouldn't leave his side during the entire visit.
"She's been talking about him the whole time," Jenn Dechert said. "It's just the best Christmas present you could ever get."
Tracy Shistle, Pottsville, who was waiting with her family for her brother, Paul, to arrive, said in contrast to the rainy and cold day when the soldiers left the previous year, the weather was beautiful and with them coming home, that was all they could ask for.
"It's exciting and just overwhelming that you can't describe it," Shistle said. "My father passed away in January right after he left, so it's been a bad year, but now that he's coming home, it makes up for it."
She said her brother came home in January for the funeral, but had to go back to Afghanistan right away, and the second goodbye was even harder.
As the word spread that the soldiers were drawing near, people flooded the sides of the road of Route 209.
The crowd began to cheer while taking photos and video footage, as the police and fire truck escort arrived with sirens blaring.
The buses with the soldiers followed waving to their family members, and also taking photos of all that came to greet them.
As the first soldiers got off the buses, cheers combined with tears once again filled the crowd as they made their way to their family members, and sharing hugs and kisses that have been long awaited.
Jason Henniger, Shippensburg, was greeted by his wife, Jill, and their son, Jensen, who was wearing a little uniform made from one of his father's old uniforms.
"It's awesome to see everyone out here and just the support that we get from the town," Henniger said. "It's just great to be home."
While it was a joyous day for families to reunite for the holidays, it was not forgotten that the company had lost three comrades due to an IED blast on July 18.
On that day, a platoon of soldiers from the 131st set out on Route 1 on escort duty. The road itself was paved once, but homemade bombs and grenades and the heavy trucks had chewed it up.
They approached a place where the 131st had seen trouble before, where a village of mud buildings is off to the left and the ground falls away to the right.
Then the homemade bomb exploded and three men were killed, including Sgt. Brian Mowery, 49, of Halifax; Staff Sgt. Kenneth VanGiesen, 30, of McKean County, who wasn't part of the 131st, but was serving with them; and Sgt. Edward Koehler, 47, who moved to Georgia after falling in love, but still deployed with his friends in Pennsylvania.
With a flag hanging at half-mast outside, three sets of boots rested in honor of the fallen men.
That was the first time three soldiers with mid-state ties were killed in the same day since the wars began in Iraq and Afghanistan and all three have posthumously been awarded the Purple Heart.
Five others were injured in the attack, who were expected to make full recoveries.
Along with those waiting for their loved ones, joining them was Cheryl Koehler, Georgia, who had lost her husband that day in July.
While Koehler would be welcoming them, she said when the buses were rolling up, she would be staying inside so she didn't have to see them get off.
"I'm very proud to be an American and I'm welcoming my friends and family members home, but my soldier's not coming home," she said. "I'm here for them, all the men and women who have been in Afghanistan."
After everyone had met with their families, a short ceremony was held inside before the soldiers were discharged.
Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said that in Harrisburg, they did condolence resolutions and paid honor to the fallen soldiers, while he has also always told people to keep the unit in their thoughts and prayers.
Tobash said the day had been a long time coming, especially since there are family members here with small children that haven't seen their parents who were at war for a long time.
"This is a big day and I'm thrilled to see as many or more people here for their return as their were for their send-off," Tobash said. "I'm happy that they're returning and I'm sad for the three colleagues that they lost during this tour."
Capt. Dana Howett also said the company completed 110 tactical combat operations and that the reunion was not about those that were present, but about those that are not.
"I could never have asked, had I individually handpicked each soldier, for a better team and a better group of leaders," she said. "There is a reason we were considered in theater the best transportation company in the country and that's because of you."