52 Marines Reunite With Family

HOUSTON - It was a homecoming fit for heroes. More than 50 Marine Reservists from across the Houston area have returned home from a 7-month-long deployment to Iraq.

Their group suffered no casualties. Most have been away from home for a year.

Monday afternoon, family and friends gathered in Galveston at the Marine Reserve Training Center to welcome them home. They made signs, waved flags and rang bells.

Elizabeth Jones dressed up and brought her nine-month-old son to welcome home Sgt. James Jones, who has missed out on almost all of his son's young life.

"First teeth, first word. He took some first steps," said Elizabeth Jones.

She wondered what their reunion would be like.

Police officers and the Patriot Guard riders escorted the Marine Reservists from Hobby Airport to Galveston.

When the buses arrived, families screamed with joy.

Sgt. Jones immediately picked out his wife and son in the crowd.

"He's nine-months-old and doesn't know me. It's tough," said Sgt. Jones.

There is joy in the reunion, but now the challenge of reconnecting with loved ones and with life away from war begins.