by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The Guam National Guard is confirming that hundreds of Guam's soldiers are now on U.S. soil.

According to a media release 342 soldiers arrived to Camp Shelby in Mississippi over the weekend. "This is obviously great news!, Although they are not yet on Guam, they are out of harms way. And that is a relief for all of us - an early Christmas gift for their families, for the Guard and for our Island community," said Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, Adjutant General for the Guam National Guard. Close to 600 soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "We're halfway there and continue to pray for safe travels of our remaining Soldiers, said Paulino. "As we continue to welcome home our Battalion Soldiers, we must remember that we still have thirty-one Airmen from the Guam Air National Guard's 254th Security Forces Squadron and four Soldiers from the Guam Army National Guard's 1990th Contingency Contracting Team deployed during this holiday season in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Please keep them and their families in your prayers," Paulino added.