JAMESTOWN (AP) - Tears, hugs and American flags welcomed members of a North Dakota National Guard unit back to their home state after nearly a year in Iraq.

Most of the 104 members of the 817th Engineer Company arrived at the Jamestown airport on two chartered flights Saturday, shortly after 7 a.m., about 45 minutes ahead of schedule. Eleven soldiers had returned earlier and two went directly to homes in Wisconsin and Colorado.

Guard officials did their best to notify families of the early arrival, and hundreds turned out to welcome home the troops.

"The year is done," said Daine Flieth, who was reunited with her husband, Randy, in time to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary Sunday. The couple's daughter, Emma, was born in February.

"We are going to have a picnic with family and go out and celebrate tonight," Flieth said.

The Guard said the soldiers from the 817th represent more than 40 communities across North Dakota. They arrived in Kuwait last September and then went to Iraq to be part of combat patrols and scout supply roads for bombs and other obstacles. Guard officials said the 817th cleared 119 explosive devices.

Sixty-seven members of the 817th had been on duty with the Guard's 141st or 142nd Engineer Combat Battalions that served about a year in Iraq, returning home in 2004 and 2005.

Spc. Johnny Jurgens said, "I'm just glad to be back."