The anticipation was almost unbearable, but 50 Michiana Marines are finally back with their families.
They returned to the Armory in South Bend Friday after a combat deployment to Afghanistan. We were there to capture the emotional reunions.
After seven months, Lyndsey McMillan had to wait just a little longer before seeing her husband Staff Sgt. Heath McMillan.
"What's going through your mind?" We asked her as she was waiting.
"So much emotion," she replied.
Sgt. McMillian's daughters were just as anxious to see their dad again, but it was mom who couldn't resist stealing the kiss she'd been anticipating for months. She didn't wait for the formal ceremony to be over. She ran straight to her husband and kissed him as soon as she saw him walk in the building.
When you're a Marine you know the chances are good you'll have to spend time away form your family. This was Staff Sgt. McMillian's third deployment.
"When you saw their eyes what was going through your mind then?" We asked his after he reunited with his family.
"That I never wanted to do this to them again... leave them again," he said.
The McMillians are now just one of many families back together again. We witnessed one Marine holding his daughter Emma for the first time.
Marine Jonathan Topple couldn't wait to hold his son. "Oh it feels phenomenal," he said. "It's just great to see my kids again."
It was an emotional homecoming. You could see it in their eyes and hear it in their words. But you will rarely hear a member of a Marine family complain. What you'll hear instead... is a lot of pride.
"I'm Speechless," said Lyndsey McMillan. "I'm just glad to have him back safe. I'm blessed, just so blessed to have someone willing to give so much."
Company B's mission in Afghanistan was providing security and conducting convoy operations.
