Soldiers welcomed home at Camp Fretterd

REISTERSTOWN, Md. - About 30 soldiers from Charlie Company returned to Maryland from Kuwait on Thursday.

They were welcomed to Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown by their families and friends. It was an emotional homecoming, many hadn't seen their loved ones in as much as a year.

Richard Serfass, the father of 20-year-old soldier Sean Serfass, admitted he would cry upon seeing his son.

"I am so proud of my son," Serfass said. "He's done an amazing thing. He went from a young man who was kinda timid, shy, stayed to himself -- went though basic and was deployed."

If you ask him now, Serfass will tell you his son is now much different -- more than a man, a hero.

"My shirt, the hat, says it all," he said.

Serfass was wearing a shirt that read, "Sean. My Son. My Soldier. My Hero."

"We didn't think this day would ever come. It's been the longest year. I'm just really, really proud that he chose this profession to help support our country."

The soldiers were on a mission to Kuwait and were part of the 1204th Network Support Company of the 1204th Aviation Support Battalion. 

In the past the unit has also been mobilized to help with Hurricane Gustav cleanup in 2008 and had helped with a snowstorm in February 2010.