The honeymoon was barely over. After just four months of marriage, Melissa Bohl said goodbye to her husband, Steve, a sergeant in the North Dakota Army National Guard. He was heading to Fort Riley, Kan., and most likely on to Iraq as part of the 3662nd General Support Maintenance Company.

Plans changed while in Fort Riley and the unit remained in the United States. And then plans changed once more. The 3662nd got the word that it was returning to North Dakota early. Just in time for Christmas.

The 3662nd of Devils Lake has a Bismarck detachment of 43 soldiers. They were honored Saturday morning at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory. The main group of the unit was honored at an afternoon program in Devils Lake.

The group wasn't supposed to return until late January but got an early reprieve. They arrived in Bismarck Thursday and a welcome-home celebration took place Saturday.

"This is a great early Christmas present," Bohl said.

Capt. Benjamin Cleghorn, commander of the 3662nd, said the timing of the return couldn't have been better.

"You don't always know what you have until you're gone," he said. "It's great to be back."

The 3662nd, nicknamed the Deuce, departed for Fort Riley on Feb. 27 and the group was split up in June when some were sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. While on active duty, the unit repaired more than 1,500 pieces of equipment.

Bohl headed up a local family support group for the unit, something that helped her as much as it helped others, she said.

"It was a little overwhelming to begin with, but you get into a routine," she said. "You get used to calling friends and family."

At Saturday's ceremony, the troops heard from Gov. John Hoeven, Rep. Earl Pomeroy, Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen, adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, and Brig. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the Guard's assistant adjutant general. And all 43 received some type of award or commendation.

Cleghorn said the group was ready from Day 1 to go overseas. But even after getting the word that it would remain stateside, the troops performed with just as much intensity, he said.

Sprynczynatyk said the Guard's mission is to be ready, relative and respected.

"You were," he told the unit.

Haugen said the first time a North Dakota Army National Guard unit was deployed was in 1898, and the state's group has participated in every war since, except Vietnam.

(Reach reporter Mark Hanson at 250-8264 or mark.hanson@bismarcktribune.com.)