HOMECOMING

Last Iraq Combat Troops Return to U.S.

Only a few dozen soldiers left in Kuwait.

The last U.S. combat troops are returning to U.S. soil, with 200 soldiers landing Saturday at Fort Hood. Only a few dozen soldiers remain in Kuwait. The soldiers’ families waited in drizzling rain and wind on Christmas Eve morning, with some wrapped in blankets and holding signs decorated with candy canes and ornaments. When the announcer yelled “Charge!” at the end of a brief welcome-home ceremony, wives, children and parents ran to the soldiers, hugging and kissing them. First Sgt. Scott Dawson said “In the future, I’m sure this will really hit me,” about the significance of being among the last soldiers to leave Iraq, but said “It’s odd,” because he will most likely be deployed to Afghanistan or somewhere else.