HARTFORD - A smile spread across Raymond Coggshall's face and the crowd roars as 10 buses round the driveway in front of the William A. O'Neill Armory Wednesday around 7 a.m.

Coggshall, of Meriden, was waiting with hundreds of others for 450 members of the state's National Guard troop to arrive home on an eight-day holiday. His 25-year-old son, Sgt. John Coggshall, was on one of the first buses.

Megan Pappas, John Coggshall's girlfriend of more than two years, was also there. The younger Coggshall has been in the guard for seven years, serving with the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry.

"There's nothing more important than getting together. It doesn't happen too often," the elder Coggshall said.

The small party waited inside with friends John and Claudia Mendyka, of Wallingford, who came to the armory to welcome their son, Spec. Jeff Mendyka, of Foxtrot Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, a unit that provides logistical support to the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry.

"We're going to have Christmas together," John Mendyka Sr. said before Friday. "This is the second one in 13 to 14 years."

The Mendyka's oldest son, John Mendyka Jr., and his fianc_ were expected Christmas Eve. John Jr. is in the Army stationed at Fort Detrik, Md., and has done two tours in Iraq.

The Coggshall's daughter, Julie, was also expected Christmas Eve, on break from her ROTC recruiting role at the University of Kentucky.

Claudia Mendyka said she gets information from a family support network in Southington, where the 102nd is based. The couple's second-oldest son, Joseph Mendyka, stopped by from his state job to welcome home his youngest brother.

"Whenever my brothers go away for whatever reason, I'm happy to see them come home," Joseph Mendyka said.

"We're just going to have a normal Christmas together," Claudia Mendyka said. "He has a lot of friends to visit."

The Mendyka and Coggshall families have known each other for several years through sharpshooting events their sons participated in. Both are national shooting champions for the All-National Guard Rifle Teams.

The two fathers are Vietnam-era soldiers, with Mendyka serving in Vietnam and Coggshall in the U.S. Navy. But it was their sons' service that brought them together. Today, they hunt and fish like old friends.

Coggshall has introduced his son to the Helmets To Hardhats program with hopes to get him started in the trade when his deployment ends.

The younger men left in early November to train in Indiana. They were brought back to the state thanks to a statewide fundraiser Operation: Home for the Holidays that generated more than $200,000 to pay for the buses. Another unit, the 250th Engineering Co. which has been training in Wisconsin, was welcomed home at Camp Rell in Niantic on Tuesday.

The training break began Dec. 23 and runs through Jan. 2. The troops will be sent back to Indiana before being deployed to Afghanistan for one year.

"It's very bittersweet," said Rachel Wache, president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Southington. "They have another separation coming up. But I can't find words to tell you how important this is, not just for the troops but for their families. It's just too awesome."

Although Mendyka has said goodbye to his oldest son as he leaves for overseas combat, this will be his youngest son's first time.

"We knew that when he joined the National Guard he would have to be deployed," the elder Mendyka said. "We knew he would have to do his duty."

But when the bus stopped and the men found their families, there were smiles and cheers. Megan Pappas hugged John Coggshall as his father fumbled with the duffle bag awaiting his turn.

"We're going to see what we have time for," Pappas said about the next seven days. "One day we want to go snowboarding, but we'll probably just relax and stay home. He's probably tired. It's nice to have him home on the holidays."

"It feels great to be home. I just want to relax and make sure I see my family," said John Coggshall.

Rachel Wache, president of the American Legion auxiliary in Southington, said anyone who wants to donate items to servicemen can contact her at (860) 628-9890.