Iowa soldiers home for the holidays

IOWA CITY - Iowa soldiers from the 389th Engineer Company deployed to Iraq have returned home, just in time for the holidays.

Dozens of soldiers from around Iowa and the Midwest arrived to their base in Middletown shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.

"They were kind of iffy about whether or not we would be home for Christmas," said Sergeant Stacie Martin of Cedar Rapids. "My mother-in-law asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said I just want to be home with the family."

The unit wasn't scheduled to return to Iowa until April, but plans changed after President Obama announced a complete troop withdrawal from Iraq earlier this year.

"I'm so glad he's home for Christmas, the kids are excited," said Jana Morian of Stockport, who's husband Staff Sergeant Christopher Morian returned with the unit.

More than 200 people packed into the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Middletown to welcome members of the unit home. In all, more than 80 members of the unit will return home by the end of the week.

"It's a feeling that's hard to describe and to put into words," said Specialist Gerald McCallister of Davenport.

Santa Claus also took part in the welcome home ceremony, speaking to the soldiers for a brief moment before they were dismissed.

"We thank you for your service, welcome home," he said. "It's the best Christmas present anybody could ask for, even Santa."