FORT KNOX, Ky (WDRB) -- If you want to make an auditorium full of soldiers' family very anxious, make them wait as a black curtain slowly reveals 300 faces returning from a year long deployment.
Olivia Hunter has one word for it, "Excitement." This is her husband's 3rd deployment and today is their 13th anniversary. "Can't wait to see him," she says. "I know their behind this big black curtain. It's going to be the best Christmas gift ever."
After 365 days deployed and traveling thousands of miles, these last few minutes are agonizing as soldiers and families stand just feet away. "I'm probably going to run like a crazy woman and probably knock him over," says Nicky Petulla. This is her first deployment experience with husband Jason. She along with the other wives and husbands pack the stands searching among the saluting camouflaged soldiers for their familiar face. Then the soldiers are dismissed and hundreds run into each other's arms.
Nicky didn't quite knock over her husband Jason, instead hugging him tightly before going in for the first of many kisses to come. "Amazing, amazing," she says later with a big smile. "Never go to let him go."
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division spent a year in Afghanistan helping the country's security forces, each soldier always mindful of what they were missing back home.
"It's refreshing," says soldier Jeremy Critchlow as he cradles his 2 ½ month year old son Jordan. "I mean I've been wanting to hold him for awhile now."
Olivia found her husband, Percell, and planted a big kiss on him as promised. "Being that we left last year on our anniversary and we get to come back this year on our anniversary, so it feels great," he says.
Moms didn't seem to mind how their kids came home. "It's amazing," says Wendi Sparks of her son Scott Johnson. "Just to smell him again and I don't care that he stinks."
Because each one will tell you they're glad their soldier came back safe.
