Tears ran down Debbie Tucker's cheeks on a wintry and wet February evening 15-months ago as she waved goodbye to her daughter, Emylie Gilliam. But today Tucker is all smiles and her yard is decorated in red, white and blue as Gilliam returns from deployment in Afghanistan.

“It has been a roller coaster with her being gone,“ said Tucker of her 21-year-old daughter.

Fresh out of Whitmire High School, Gilliam signed up to be a member of the National Guard Army at the age of 18.

It wasn't long before Gilliam was with the rest of the local 218th members headed to Afghanistan.

“She and learned and seen a lot to be 21,“ said Tucker.

Both Tucker and Gilliam are looking forward to their reunion. Tucker said several days ago Gilliam arrived back on U.S. soil at Fort Bragg, N.C.

“The families were told not to go to North Carolina,“ said Tucker. “We been talking on the phone but ‘til I see her and get my hands on her.“

Tucker said she would spend today waiting on a phone call from Gilliam telling her mother where to come to get her. The troops plan to either disembark from their mission at an armory in Columbia or Union.

Tucker doesn't know when or where but she adds, “that's the Army.“

For the past few days Gilliam and the others have been standing in lines as they go through the deployment details.

“She doesn't want to have to stop for the assemblies,“ said Tucker of her daughter's impatience to return home to Whitmire.

Tucker has flags hooked to trees and fences at her Whitmire home. An inflatable “Welcome Home“ is attached to the side of the house. The mother was also given a large sign to welcome Gilliam home.

The plan is for the family to have a quiet get together on Friday night with a rib-eye steak barbecue.

Tucker said after the celebration that she and Gilliam would head out shopping. Tucker's daughter, Jessica, is getting married later this month and Gilliam will get in on all the preparation and a girls night out next weekend.

Once the wedding is over Gilliam is planning on taking a cruise with a friend. But her mother said despite Gilliam being oversees with the Army that she doesn't have a passport and she will have to get one before leaving the country again.

Also Gilliam will have decisions to make about where she will work or if she will go back to school. She is even thinking about becoming an emergency medial technician and took a class in emergency care while in Afghanistan.

“She is talking about joining the Army full-time,“ said Tucker, adding her dad, Alfred James, is retired from the Army.

Gilliam also plans on getting her fill of all of the things she has missed while away. She has already requested for her mother to make fried chicken, peas and carrots, mac and cheese, and lots of sweet tea.

While serving her country in war torn Afghanistan, the Whitmire High graduate received support from all across the country.

Her mother had a case of small packs of Dukes mayonnaise, coffee, and creamer shipped to her.

“She had people from all over the U.S. support her,“ said Tucker. “Several families wrote to her. One doctor from Minnesota sent her nice gift boxes.“

Tucker adds that for the past few weeks, she has been the one receiving packages as Gilliam sends home tokens like rugs, pots and gifts from Afghanistan.

But the best gift and mother and daughter will receive is the hug when they reunite today.