Cindy Mozingo's red, white and blue stovepipe hat drew a lot of attention.

"Oh, it's a friend's hat, and she made me wear it," she said with a smile after being interviewed by a local television station.

Her friend's husband was one of the 250 soldiers assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, which returned Aug. 14 from a 12-month deployment to Iraq.

After a few moments of thought, Mozingo added, "I am wearing this hat for my husband, a Vietnam veteran who served in the 1st Cav, who never came home 40 plus years ago to a welcome like this." To underscore her dedication, she wore a black T-shirt with a yellow 1st Cavalry patch.

The soldiers who were welcomed home at Soldier's Field House are the first wave of about 3,500 members of the brigade who will be returning through September. The 4th Brigade's return follows the return of 5th Brigade, which deployed to Afghanistan, and 3rd Brigade, which just recently returned from Iraq. The three brigades account for approximately 12,000 soldiers to return home to Lewis-McChord.

Like most redeployments, friends and family waited a long time to be reunited with their soldiers.

"I got here at four this morning," said Jessica Tudor as she held her pajama-clad, infant son, Andrew. "But, I am so excited he's finally coming home."

Tudor said that her husband, 1st Lt. Adam Tudor, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, had been able to stay in touch through the Internet video-chat service Skype in order to see the growth of his young son.

While the 500 plus family members and friends waited, they watched a big video screen that flashed images of the brigade's work, and at other times they listened to music provided by the superb 56th Army Band's brass quintet.

At about 8:45 a.m. the soldiers entered the field house to a rousing ovation, lined up, and waited patiently for Col. Anthony Cruz to release them.

"Thank you for the job well done," he said.  "We're proud of you."

A moment later the order to dismiss was given, and loved ones and friends in the stands rushed out onto the floor to embrace their soldiers. Kisses, hugs and tears followed. And just as quickly, the field house emptied as family members and friends headed home.

"I think when we get home we'll take a nap," said Bambi Klitz.  "It's been a pretty long day so far."

The returning soldiers get two days to relax before undergoing a 10- to 13-day reintegration program to help them adjust to being home again.

"It's to help them with things they're anxious about and shift their focus to being a couple again, being a family again," said 2nd Lt. Ashley Nicolas, HHC, 4th Brigade, Rear Detachment.