Money and freight are the lifeblood of U.S. full-spectrum war efforts.

Transporting cargo and dispersing pay are the specialties of two 593rd Sustainment Brigade units that returned last week from a year in Iraq. Thunderous cheers and applause greeted approximately 175 Soldiers of the 21st Cargo Transfer Company and Alpha Detachment, 9th Financial Management Company the evening of Dec. 4 at Wilson Sports and Fitness Center.

"What a wonderful gift that you're all home for the holidays," said Col. Lois Beard, commander of 593rd Sust. Bde. Rear. "Know that we all take great pride in your sacrifice and successful accomplishment of a full range of missions that you executed in support of coalition forces fighting for the security and freedom of the citizens of Iraq, while at the same time protecting and defending our nation's interests and our way of life."

Both organizations deployed December 2008 to Iraq and under the concept of modular support, set up operations at three locations.

"The relatively small number of Soldiers before us moved one heck of a lot of cargo and cash that was needed to sustain the counterinsurgency effort that has successfully deterred terrorism," Beard said.

Soldiers from the 9th Fin. Mgt. Co. disbursed more than $20 million in military pay and payments to commercial vendors at Camp Victory and several forward operating bases, while 21st CTC managed two centralized receiving and shipping points, one at Camp Liberty and another at Taji; it also coordinated cargo shipments at a key airfield. All three operations facilitated the onward movement of cargo to its final destination in Iraq or Kuwait.

The 21st CTC gained notice in 2006 throughout the Department of Defense as the Army winner of the National Defense Transportation Association's "Military Unit of the Year."

Beard made a point of acknowledging the sacrifices of the family members who came to welcome their loved ones in uniform.

"(These Soldiers) are the best in the world at what they do largely because of (you)," she said.

Vilma Araneta has been cooking non-stop in anticipation of the 593rd Sust. Bde. Soldiers' return. Her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Romeo Araneta, and son, Pfc. Jenneth Araneta, returned after deploying together in February.

"I went home to the Philippines," she said. "I went home to my family because I didn't have anyone here."

Araneta returned to Fort Lewis, however, when her husband called to tell her that he and her son would return on Dec. 4.

Lori Lamar came from California to greet her daughter, Staff Sgt. Misty McFarlane. Mother and daughter had stayed in touch via Yahoo instant messenger and an occasional video chat, but it wasn't the same as speaking to her face to face.

"I'm excited to have her back for every second, not just Christmas," Lamar said. "I'm just glad she's alive. I'm so proud of every single one of them - all of them, all over the world."