It's been a tough year for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Ft. Carson. Forty-four soldiers from the unit were killed during a year-long deployment, eight of them in one attack. Now nearly 150 soldiers from the unit returned home Monday night.

Family and friends of the men and women who came home to Ft. Carson are thrilled to be reunited with their heroes. "We are always so thankful when they come home," says Beverly Deister. Her son, Staff Sergeant Slade Deister is now reunited with his wife and four young boys. "I'm pretty happy to be home... it's been a long haul, long for a few years," says Staff Sergeant Deister.

But not all of the soldiers in this unit are getting a welcome home hug. "They made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. They are here in spirit and join us knowing the mission was accomplished," says a soldier at Ft. Carson. Remembering those who gave their lives for our nation is tough for Staff Sergeant Deister. "Just the good times we had just great memories, great memories," says Deister.

Now that his third deployment is over, Cassi, his wife, is eager for her sons to get some daddy time. "Just the simple things- dinner together, watching television together... it's all about that, playing outside," says Cassi Deister.

This is just the beginning of welcome home hugs for soldiers in this unit. Over the month of May, thousands more soldiers from the unit will be returning in waves.