Los Alamitos — Helicopter pilot Joe McNamara drapes a flag over his shoulders as he turns toward the crowd of family and friends assembled to greet the returning soldiers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38151

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Los Alamitos — Capt. Matt Jackson plants a kiss on the cheek of his son Jared after arriving back in California after a year in Iraq.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38152

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Los Alamitos — Madalyn Tejava holds a sign welcoming her fiance, Javier Araujo, back home.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38153

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Los Alamitos — Helicopter pilot Kevin Kiem holds his wife, Tara, left, and daughter Janel in a happy reunion.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38154

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Los Alamitos — Helicopter pilot David Borgerd looks again into the eyes of his wife, Toyce.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38155

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Los Alamitos — The children of a returning guardsman hold a banner of welcome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38156

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Los Alamitos — The charter plane carrying soldiers from the 1-140th gets a celebratory dousing from a fire truck after landing at Joint Force Training Base Los Alamitos.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=38157

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