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Jed Boal ReportingTen Utah soldiers are back on Utah soil and back in the arms of loved ones after a year-and-a-half in Iraq. It's been a day of happy reunions for members of the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion.
Not everyone there truly realizes what the commotion is all about, but the bigger kids know this is the day their dads come home from war. And the adults certainly understand just how precious these moments are.
These soldiers deployed to Iraq in January 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In support of a combat team, the platoon of soldiers monitored enemy communications. They gave key information to US commanders to ensure the safety of our troops.
Lt. Dave Price, 142nd Military Battalion: "We try to keep track of the bad guys and hand it over to the infantry guys to go kick in doors and get the bad guys."
Soldiers say it'd a rewarding mission, but hard.
Chief Warrant Officer Brian Stearmer, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion: "We didn't solve the world. Obviously, it's still bad over there. We did make a lot of progress. In our own little area, we did the best we could."
And so did families at home.
Leandra Stearmer, Soldier's Wife: "Very proud of him. Very hard. I had my down moments. When I heard the great things they were doing, I couldn't help but change my attitude."
Sunny Price, Soldier's Wife: "It was a challenge some days, but we survived. You do it day by day. It's worth it because you know what they're doing it really important."
Several soldiers will finally get to know children born while they were gone. Most will savor a sense of peace they haven't felt in 18 months.
