Ft. Riley troops return home from Iraq

Soldiers with 5th "Longknife" Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd "Dagger" Brigade, 1st Infantry Division are welcomed home as they redeploy to Fort Riley, Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 22. 2011, after a year-long deployment to Iraq.

This marked the brigade's fourth deployment to Iraq (Operation New Dawn). The brigade was previously deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005, 2006-2007, and 2008-2009.

The unit deployed to Baghdad with more than 3,000 soldiers in November 2010. Their duties included closing several joint security stations, and transferring bases and property to the U.S. State Department or the Iraqi security forces.

These are the first of more than 3,000 of the brigade's troops who will return to the post over the next several weeks.

At a welcoming ceremony Saturday morning at Fort Riley's Custer Hill, approximately 200 soldiers of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division were reunited with their loved ones.

Anxious family members await the troops.

Welcome home.

Bearing a flag.

Camouflage.

After a year in Iraq, a hug.

Homecoming.

Family reunion.

On Sunday, about 240 Kansas National Guard Soldiers of the 778th Transportation Company will be welcomed home from a year in Kuwait and Iraq, at a ceremony to be held at the Bicentennial Center in Salina.