FORT BRAGG, N.C. - For these family members with loved ones overseas, it's been a long year.
But Friday the wait was over for some, reuniting husbands, wives and children with their heroes.
Close to 150 paratroopers with the 18th Airborne Corps returned to Fort Bragg after serving more than a year in Iraq, Syria and Mosul with a mission of defeating ISIS.
Captain Thomas Pell’s son was just a newborn when he was deployed 12 months ago.
"I missed him a lot. I don't know if I can tell you how much I missed him. I missed him a lot. I've been face-timing with him every day, and I'm really happy he knows who I am, said Captain Pell.
Now that he's home, Captain Pell says he's looking forward to reconnecting with his wife and son the most.