FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky - U.S. troops return home, touching down in the Midstate Monday. They were welcomed by a loving crowd at Fort Campbell. Though excited, several soldiers we spoke to call this homecoming bittersweet. They're part of a bigger mission and left hundreds of others behind in Afghanistan. Waiting in the wind, finding a place behind the gate, standing still as 101 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division walk off the plane toward them.

"It feels great," says SSgt. Stephen Albanese. "I'm so excited. It's emotional."

These families wait to reunite, cheering as they're one step closer to their loved ones.

"It's great to see all the support and feel how appreciated we are," says Albanese.

Gone 7 months of a 9 month deployment, these soldiers are home early, but counting down the days, all 211 of them. This day can't come soon enough.

"It's been a long time coming and I really appreciate him so much more and I'm so grateful that he's home and I'm so happy now," says SSgt. Albanese's wife Deborah.

The troops march into the hangar as part of their ceremonial welcome. Music, pictures and excitement before the moment they've been looking forward to.

"I haven't seen my baby since she was 6 months old," says Ssgt. Albanese.

It's excitement coupled with knowing over 260 of the soldiers they deployed with are still in Afghanistan.

"It's kind of bittersweet because I left so many folks engaged in the mission, but I also get to come home and rebuild and enjoy time with the family," says Battalion Commander Benjamin Bahoque.

Their arrival home comes as 2 U.S. troops were among those killed in an early Monday firefight after a police officer in Kabul reportedly opened fire on U.S. and Afghan forces. Commander Bahoque says this group's mission was to provide maintenance for all of the helicopters flying in the country. It's his 3rd deployment, the first to bring him home to his family sooner than later.

"You worry about them when they're over there," says Commander Bahoque's wife Teresa. "You just want everything to go smoothly."

"We're with a great group of guys and we're like family out there, but there's nothing like this," says SSgt. Albanese.

Commander Bahoque says the remaining troops in the battalion will continue coming home in phases at the end of April.
Emotional Reunion at Fort Campbell - Erika Kurre