Army Spc. Adam Beinerman cried tears of joy, hugged his wife, Michele, and wouldn’t let go after returning Monday night from what will likely be his — and other Schofield Barracks soldiers’ — final deployment to Iraq.

The 260 Schofield soldiers who were reunited with family members at Wheeler Army Airfield represent the first wave of the 650 headquarters soldiers returning from a year in the country as the United States approaches the end of its combat involvement in the nearly 9-year-old war.

All U.S. combat troops have to be out of Iraq by Dec. 31, and the Hawaii soldiers will be among the last ones there.

The next Schofield group is expected back Dec. 9, with remaining soldiers, including 25th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Bernard Champoux, due to return before Christmas.

After that, Iraq missions will be no more.

The sense of history wasn’t lost on the returning troops and their families, but reuniting with relatives before the holidays was what mattered most.

Camp Liberty, part of the once sprawling Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, was closing down around the Schofield soldiers as they left Iraq for the last time.

"It was amazing," said Beinerman, 29, a two-time Iraq veteran. "We were going home."

About 400 family members erupted in cheers as the soldiers marched in formation into a cavernous building at Wheeler at 9:05 p.m. Monday.

Military families joyfully reunited across the country this week and last with National Guard soldiers from California, Montana, Iowa, Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah returning home from Iraq.

Over the past 21/2 weeks, 13,000 U.S. troops have left Iraq, with fewer than 20,000 remaining in the country.

"We’re shutting down everything over there. Not as many people have to go across seas anymore to fight. People can be back with their families (more), so that’s a big portion right there," said Spc. Kelly Johnson, 27, as he held his 14-month-old daughter, Anna.

Julia Mailo and her daughter, Ryccus, 3, waited Monday for the return of Julia’s husband and Ryccus’ father, Staff Sgt. Robin Mailo, 33, a 1995 Farrington High grad from Kalihi who worked in communications in Iraq.

"We’re relieved (that the war is ending), but then, we’re also realistic. He’s a soldier full time. Anything can happen anywhere in the world. So we’re grateful that he’s back home," Julia Mailo said.

In a sign of one change in the overseas deployment picture, about 50 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers and five Black Hawk helicopters slated for an Iraq deployment are now expected to fly "general aviation support" missions in Kuwait, where the United States wants to maintain forces.

The National Guard said Monday that the soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment were en route to Kuwait.