While family and friends anxiously await their arrival in North Dakota, one of our guard units is now one step closer to home.

Amber Schatz shows us how a Bismarck family celebrates their arrival on U-S soil.

"He's always wanted to be military from time he was very young," says the Hoffert family.

It's not the first time we've spoken with the Hoffert family. Their son Nick has been deployed overseas twice...

"When he was 17 he asked us to sign papers so he can get in early, and been in ten years now," said Duane Hoffert.

Now his parents Duane and Debbie can only wait for him to arrive in Bismarck after his service in Iraq. They join other family and friends of the 191st Military police unit who arrived on U-S soil last night.

"He sent me a text at 7:22 this morning and I started crying, it was such a relief knowing he's close," said Debbie, Nick's mom.

He and the other soldiers are split between Fort Lewis Washington and Fort Dix New Jersey and will hopefully make it back to North Dakota, sometime this week.

The returning guardsmen haven't been home in about a year and, Nick for one, will return to a house filled with Christmas presents, lights, a favorite stocking and some proud loved ones.

"They did their job in very trying circumstances sometimes and to me, that's we have to be proud of him to accomplish that and respect what he did over there."


Veronica Hanson/Nick's fiancee: "It's a little tough, but because I'm also in military I have an understanding of what it's like and how it feels to be away from home."


And while he'll be home soon; Nick's family is prepared if he's called overseas for a third time.

"For me, I signed the dotted line too, so I know we both have obligations to go at anytime it might be a little rough, but I have the understanding I'll be okay with it, just like if I have to go again, I'm okay with it," said Hanson.

Nick's fiancee Veronica says it'll be easier to plan for their wedding in May, with Nick in person, and without a phone delay. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list