Nearly 300 Wisconsin soldiers are safely back on U.S. soil.

Members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Brigade landed at Volk Field Tuesday Afternoon and were welcomed into the open arms of their family and friends.

The soldier's families eyes twinkled with excitement and then erupted into tears of joy as the planes landed.

The 32nd Brigade is based in Abbotsford and Eau Claire and some families drove for miles just to have a few minutes with their loved ones.

For some of the soldiers, the smallest family members missed them the most.

"[My daughter is] just a totally different kid than the last year," says Sgt. Daniel Ugoretz of Weston.

"[My niece] is going to be three now, and she wasn't talking the last time I saw her and now she won't shut up," says Spc. Brandon Tuttle of Eau Claire.

"I'm so proud of him. He's my hero definitely," says Michelle Stewart of Wausau.

Stewart was able to keep in touch with her husband Lewis, using email and Facebook... but the couple wasn't able to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary on December 19th.

Both say that doesn't matter, because being back together is the best gift they could ask for.

"It's a loss for words it feels too good to be real...to finally be back with my wife and in five days see my kids," Spc. Lewis Stewart.

"You just miss that man smell, you get used to it then you miss it," says Kara Burclaw of Wausau.

This is the second time her husband Joseph has been deployed.

He says he's looking forward to a normal life.

"Just waiting to get home and restart my life and get back to normal," says Staff Sgt. Joseph Burclaw

Unfortunately time didn't stand still while the soldiers were away.

"She's changed a lot over the last year it's going to be nice to be home and not miss anything else." Sgt. Ugoretz.

"Even thought they missed a year's work of birthdays and anniversaries the families tell me they plan to celebrate today and are looking forward to sharing lots of special moments in 2010.

The soldiers will stay on the base to debrief for the next five days they they will be free to go home and be with their loved ones.

Another group of soldiers is expected to arrive at Volk Field on Wednesday.