ALBANY, GA (WALB) -
Two marines made it back home this afternoon after being deployed in Afghanistan for six months.
Marines Richard Garcia and David Navarre were have been over seas since April 1, 2012.
"This is my second time, first time to Iraq in '05 and this is my second one to Afghanistan," says Navarre.
But this afternoon they were reunited with friends and family.
"For those that go deploy and then they come back, that overwhelming feeling when you're out there. First thing is you're always worrying about the mission but always in the back of your mind your thinking about your family," says Garcia.
The pair was in charge of circulating weapons systems and bringing them back home; a job they say is vital.
"These are going to be the weapons that we have for the next 10 years so if we don't have tem fixed up now then we won't have nothing to protect us later," says Navarre.
It's been exactly 6 months since Garcia and Navarre stepped foot on American soil and they say they atmosphere in Afghanistan is completely different.
"When you leave this great nation of ours and go to another country, coming back, every single thing you are grateful for - driving, the street lights, Walmart, the mall, having the opportunity just to go to the supermarket and pick out what you want to eat," says Garcia.
Simple luxuries that soldiers are forced to give up but he says it's worth it because Afghan civilians seem to appreciate American presence.
"There's always been positive, they've always got statements and feedback, you know they appreciate everything we've done and the continuous effort of the United States and the coalition forces out there in Afghanistan," Garcia says.
But one things for certain, they're happy to be home; back to their normal life.
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