'It feels awesome' ... Guard unit returns from Afghanistan

The anticipation mounted with each passing minute as friends and family waited Sunday night for their loved ones who had spent most of 2011 in Afghanistan.

When the hangar doors opened and members of the Nevada Army National Guard's 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion marched in, the screams and clapping drowned out the roar of two C-130s that had transported 120 guardsmen from a demobilization ceremony earlier in the day at Las Vegas to the Nevada Air National Guard base at Reno.

"The first thing I am going to tell my husband is 'I love you,'" said Elizabeth Guerrero of Dayton, whose husband, Julio Guerrero, served as a first sergeant for Bravo Company. "I am very excited, very happy, proud of my husband. Today has been pretty long for us."

Alex Guerrero said he was happy his brother was deployed to a base and not "in the middle of the field."

"I feel like my brother had more protection," he said.

The 422nd ESB, which consisted of soldiers from Northern Nevada, Las Vegas and Casa Grande, Ariz., deployed last January and then departed to Afghanistan in late March. The 422nd was the largest individual signal unit in Afghanistan during its deployment and took care of the communications within the 82nd Airborne's area of responsibility. The battalion provided base communications at Kandahar Air Field and communications and signal support to multi-national units, joint service military, civilians and contractors.

After the battalion marched into the hangar, commander Lt. Col. Jeff Hansen of Dayton told about 400 people the soldiers were thankful to be back home.

"This is the sight I have been dreaming for a year now," Hansen said. "I am thankful to God that every member of the command made it home safely. This is the finest Guard unit in the Army standing before you now."

He said the battalion made a difference in the lives of the servicemen and women and civilians who are serving in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Matt Liemandt of Carson City, waited with his son and daughter for his wife, Elizabeth, who served as first sergeant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Co.

Matt said the year's absence went by quickly.

"We've been able to chat on Facebook or email every day," he said.

This was his wife's second deployment, the first from December 2003 to March 2005 when her unit went to Kuwait.

"It's been easier on the kids because they are old enough to understand," he said. "But we've been anxious the last coupe of weeks. My son (Sammy) asked if it was time to pick up mommy yet."

After 1st Sgt. Elizabeth Liemandt, who grew up in Douglas County, was able to hug her family, she wiped away the tears.

"I am elated, exhausted," she said. "The last couple of weeks have been long, aggravating, but I am glad we got everyone home."

Likewise, 1st Sgt. Julio Guerrero said after the short ceremony he was ready to go home.

"It feels awesome," Guerrero said of the homecoming.