Overjoyed families welcome Wisconsin National Guard soldiers, home in time for the holidays

MILWAUKEE -- Coming home for the holidays is impossible for some -- especially our servicemen and women deployed overseas. But FOX6 News was there as one family welcomed their hero home for the holidays.

Senior Wisconsin Army National Guard leaders joined families and friends to welcome home soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation.

Anxious families await arrival of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers, home from Kuwait

They arrived at General Mitchell International Airport on Sunday morning, December 20th.

This group returning home on Sunday morning is the final group of 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation soldiers returning to Milwaukee.

Almost all of the nearly 30-soldier unit returned from Kuwait to the United States on a series of flights over the past week, and the unit began returning to Milwaukee on a series of flights beginning December 17th.

The soldiers back in Wisconsin after completing demobilization requirements at Fort Hood, Texas.

A small portion of the unit remains overseas until a date to be determined.

Anxious families await arrival of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers, home from Kuwait

The unit, headquartered in West Bend spent seven months in Kuwait, where they mobilized in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. After arriving in Kuwait, the unit, which flies UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, provided air medevac assets and maintenance support for American personnel operating in the region.

Ultimately, the unit accrued more than 1,200 flight hours during their deployment and responded to 14 medevac missions. It also supported ground maintenance efforts in Kuwait and Iraq and trained hundreds of service members on aeromedical evacuation operations.

Families welcoming these soldiers home on Sunday morning waited a long seven months to see them.

Needless to say, they're overjoyed to have them home in time for the holidays.