Oregon Public Broadcasting

One hundred-fifty Washington National Guard members are back home with their families after a year in Iraq.

The first plane-load of citizen-soldiers from the 81st Brigade Combat Team arrived at McChord Air Force Base  Wednesday. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins was there.

As the Guard members stepped off the plane, they were greeted by a blast of Baghdad-style heat and a handshake from Governor Chris Gregoire.

Families welcome home 150 WA National Guard soldiers after a year-long deployment to Iraq.

Chris Gregoire: “Welcome home sir, good to have you back.”

A short bus ride later, they were standing in formation in a sweltering gymnasium. A curtain rose to reveal bleachers full of family and friends.

These soldiers are among 2400 Washington Guard members who did everything from construction to convoy security in Iraq. For many of these part-time soldiers, this was a second deployment to Iraq.

Staff Sergeant Craig Darby - holding his seven month old daughter – says things were calmer this time.

Staff Sgt. Craig Darby: “Oh ya, you can see a big difference. It's much more stable than it was the previous time I was over there.”

The rest of the Brigade will return over the next couple of weeks. The 81st lost one soldier – Specialist Sam Stone – in a vehicle accident during the deployment.