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Gene Kennedy reportingIt will be a Father's Day unlike any other for more than 400 soldiers who just came home. They will spend Sunday with their families in St. George, Cedar City, and Salt Lake City.
"It's gonna be the best Father's Day ever, no question."
Soldiers from the 222nd Field Artillery, or "Triple Deuce", were dropped off to their loved ones all over the state Saturday. Salt Lake was actually the final stop for troops heading home.
All of them spent a year in the deserts of Iraq. Today they said hello again to their families. Hundreds of families have waited more than a year for this moment; people like Kate Stoker.
Kate Stoker/Soldier's Wife: "I'm just excited to start life again and get back to normal....great to have him back."
Her husband, Sargeant Robert Stoker.
Sargeant Robert Stoker./ 222nd Field Artilery Unit: "We've been married now three years. Half of that has been gone. So it's great to be back and finally see her again. We stopped in Cedar City first. Great welcome there, tons of people. Saw some good friends, stuff like that."
Staff Sgt. Frank Staheli, 222nd Field Artillery Unit: "It still feels like a dream. Still hard to believe that I am really here."
Especially to see your children again. Six-year-old Brent Staheli couldn't wait to ride on dad's shoulder's.
The timing for this homecoming couldn't be better: The day before Father's Day.
Staff Sgt. Frank Staheli / 222nd Field Artilery Unit: "It's been really nice to get everything taken care of so we could get back here. Best Father's day ever."
The 222nd Field Artillery unit guarded fought insurgents and guarded soldiers transporting ammunition. The group repeatedly took fire, but amazingly, only one fatality among them.
Victoria Brant / Soldier's Mother: "I still have prayers for all those over there. I hope that Iraq can get their democracy established soon, so that American people can come back to American soil"
120 soldiers were dropped off in Cedar City before the Salt Lake stop. From Northern to Southern Utah, a lot of families are celebrating this weekend.
