3rd Infantry Division soldiers return home from deployment in Europe

FORT STEWART, Ga. (WTOC) - 200 soldiers are back on U.S. soil Friday night.

The 3rd Infantry Division welcomed home the soldiers who were deployed to Europe for the last nine months.

“It the most amazing occasion, its the biggest release of joy when you finally see your family after 9 months of seeing our country, we are proud to do this mission, we don’t have to do this, we get to do this missioner, but it takes an emotional toll on us, and we are super excited to welcome this guys home,” said Maj. Charlie Egan, 3rd Infantry Division.

A hero’s welcome home for 200 soldiers on Fort Stewart Friday.

These soldiers are just some of the 3000 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division who have spent the last 9 months in Europe serving with European allies.

“I’m excited, relieved, glad to be home,” said Maj. Peary Cox, who deployed to Lithuania.

Major Peary Cox was deployed in Lithuania and had to watch his daughter Madison grow from a distance.

“Been a lot of changes with how little she is,” said Cox.

But not anymore, and he isn’t the only one happy about that.

“I can finally get a break again,” said Tiffany Cox, Peary’s wife.