Soldiers returning from Somalia arrived at Fort Drum on Saturday to a hero's welcome, thankful to be home in time for Christmas.
Hundreds of relatives and friends packed a gym at this northern New York Army post during a ceremony to greet nearly 450 members of the 2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment.Army Chief of Staff General Gordon R. Sullivan told the returning troops they represented "the proudest traditions of the U.S. Army."
There was an extra person on hand to welcome home Sgt. David Dulen - his 2-month old daughter Jessica, whom he had never seen.
"I've been dreaming about this moment," Dulen said as he held the baby. "Not too long ago, I thought this was going to be the worst Christmas of my life. Now it's the best."
"I was prepared to stay until February or March," said Lt. Bruce Nelson of Charleston, S.C., who was enjoying hugs from his young son and wife at the same time. "Now, I'm standing here with my family. Christmas is next week, but I got my gift early."
President Clinton ordered more than 8,000 U.S. troops out of the African nation by March 31 after an Oct. 3 ambush of Army Rangers by Somalian militia killed 18 Americans and wounded 75.
The 2nd Battalion, moving through heavy gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire in a densely populated section of Mogadishu, rescued 100 rangers and carried out the dead. Two of the soldiers killed and 32 of the wounded were attached to the battalion.