Nearly 300 soldiers return home to Fort Bliss

Family and friends greeted the 279 soldiers returning to Fort Bliss from Iraq Monday night.

The troops were all part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and the second group to come home ahead of schedule in accordance with the new withdraw date set by President Barack Obama a couple of weeks ago.

Family members waited anxiously as their soldiers filed off of the airplane to the sounds of a military band.

Army wife Sylvia Valdez waited for her husband with her in-laws.

"When I first heard they might send them home early, I started praying for it," said Valdez. "I never thought it was going to happen, but it did. They've been out for about five months, but we originally thought they were going to be out for a whole year."

When Valdez finally got to hug her husband, neither could stop smiling.

"It feels wonderful to be back," said Pfc. Angel Gomez. "I've got my wife again, my family, it's the best thing in the world. It was really stressful to have that long distance relationship with my wife."

Fort Bliss officials estimate the base will have 3,500 soldiers returning from Iraq by the end of the year. The soldiers were in Iraq to train, advise and assist the Iraqi army and security forces.