About forty Charlie Company Marines based out of Peoria were activated seven months ago. Now, they're back on home soil. The men and women served in Iraq and for some of the Marines it's their fourth tour there.

Rumbling motorcycles escort busloads of local marines back to Central Illinois. They were welcomed with family friends, smiles and hugs.
For Marines like David Dobson, this is the first time in seven months he's seen his family.

"I'm excited to get to know her. I mean she was two days old when we got activated, so I'm glad to see my wife and I'm excited to spend some time with her and get to know her," Dobson says.

"We're going to be a family finally because he left when she was so young," Dobson's Wife Julie says.

The happy husband and wife are not the excited only ones. Dobson's parents are cheering for him now, but they say they were worried while he was on active duty.

"He's a child. He may have not come back," Dobson's Mom Shirley says.

Dobson's Dad Eddie added, "You're always worried when they get into combat with all the combing and everything that's going on. That something would happen to him especially with his new daughter you know you're always scared that things won't be the same when you come back."

"I know that they're scared when I'm over there and they want me safe," David Dobson says.

But it was all cheers for this and forty other marines Saturday afternoon with everyone returning safely and brimming with pride.

"If you feel like you're called to serve, then I think that's something everyone should do if they feel like they want to give back something to our country," David Dobson says.

And that's just why Dobson and other Central Illinois marines served for 7 months in Iraq.

The Marines spent the past 7-months based in Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq.
About 150 soldiers, approximately 60 from Peoria, with the Illinois Army National Guard will head to Kosovo after a send-off ceremony on Sunday.