Troops Return Home to New President

As Barack Obama began the first full day of his presidency, there was a homecoming for troops returning from Iraq.

About 80 troops from the army's 63rd Signal Battalion Company B came home early this morning. They reunited with family and friends in a gym at the Fort Gordon army base near Augusta, after serving in Iraq for 15 months.

These troops return home to a new president, one who wants to end the war. Obama has said he wants to pull troops out of Iraq during the next 16 months.

"I'm happy to have a new president, and I'm ready for change," said Sgt. Kimberly Miller, declined to say who she voted for. "Hopefully the deployments will slow down and all of our comrades will get home safely."

During their time in Iraq, Miller and her fellow troops maintained communications, such as internet and telephones, for the army.

Military troops deploy to Iraq

Another military unit from eastern Georgia is heading to Iraq. The troops left Fort Gordon near Augusta on Saturday. About 120 troops are part of the latest deployment. They’re joining about 550 of their fellow members of the 63^rd Signal Battalion already in Iraq. It’s the battalion’s third deployment in four years. That can be hard on troops and their families. Austin Webb serves with the battalion’s Company B. He’s 24 years old, and has been married four years. But he’s spent a total of nearly three years away from his wife, serving in Korea and once before in Iraq. “It’s basically getting old, having to leave and come, leave and come,” he said. “What makes it harder is that you don’t see the person you married. You see your job more than that person.” Webb’s battalion sets up and maintains communications equipment. Military officials say the troops will serve in Iraq for 15 months. For more information on Fort Gordon and the 63rd Signal Battalion, go to www.gordon.army.mil.