N.J. soldiers return home after duty in Iraq

Fort Dix today is the site of happy reunions as 820 New Jersey National Guard soldiers return home from Iraq.

First Sgt. David Moore, a fort spokesman, said 85 members of Company HHC Second 113 Infantry out of Riverdale were the first to arrive at 6 a.m., greeted by about 100 ecstatic family memebers who waved signs saying "Welcome Back Daddy," and "We're Proud of You."

"They were part of detainee operations at Camp Bucca, Iraq, not too far from Kuwait,"

Other units are returning throughout the day.

They includethe 328th Military Police Co. of Cherry Hill; the 117th Reconnaissance Surveillance, Target Acquisition unit of West Orange; and Bravo Company, 250th Brigade Support Battalion based in Bordentown.

The arrivals will bring the number of guardsmen to to return since Memorial Day to 1,220.

Those arriving will undergo "reverse deployment" for seven days before they will be released to their families, Moore said.