By Henry CuninghamSteve and Irene Foster flew into North Carolina from California on Saturday to be sure they would be on hand when their 20-year-old son returned from a year in Iraq.
Spc. Adam Foster arrived Tuesday afternoon at Pope Air Force Base's Green Ramp with about 200 of his fellow paratroopers.
Their son is among about 3,500 soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team who are redeploying to Fort Bragg. See story at Fayetteville Observer
The Fosters wore "2 Panther" shirts in honor of their son's battalion. Other waiting family members held small U.S. flags and hand-lettered welcome signs.
"I'm pro-military, big time," said Foster, 46, a school bus mechanic in Anaheim. They have another son who is in the Army and will deploy to Afghanistan in several months.
The Fosters appreciated their ability to stay in touch with their paratrooper son via the Internet during his deployment. They have a laptop with the volume turned up so they can hear a loud noise if either son sends a message.
Family members waited eagerly for the arrival of a white commercial airliner carrying the soldiers, which finally touched down after 1 p.m. Lt. Col. Lou Zeisman and Task Force 2 Panther officially set foot on Pope Air Force Base after a year in Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, the deputy commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps, greeted the soldiers with brief remarks in the passenger shelter before they reunited with their family members.
"The real unsung heroes in our midst here today are the families and loved ones that have supported us from near and far throughout this long 12-month deployment," Allwyn said.
The 2nd Battalion's 850 soldiers are flowing in this week. Col. Tim McGuire, the brigade commander, is scheduled to return Thursday.
About 90 percent of the troops will be home by later this week, said Maj. Brian Fickel, a division spokesman.
Zeisman said the Iraqi Security Force has made great strides in taking care of its own security.
"When I left there, I felt good about it," Zeisman said.
Spc. Christopher Jackson, 23, reunited with his wife, Selena, and their son, Daylon, 4.
"It feels so good! I'm so glad he's back," she cried. "He's happy. I'm happy. We're all happy."
Capt. Alex Bailey, 27, greeted his wife, Shanika, 27, who is five months pregnant with their "R&R baby." He came home during the midway point of his deployment.
"Now that my wife is pregnant, she loves to eat just as much as I do," he said. "So we have something else in common."
First Sgt. Frances Rodriguez, 40, hugged her husband and two teenage children.
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