Natchez &8212; What a Christmas to remember.

Several Natchez members of the 155th Mississippi National Guard Infantry will return this weekend &8212; just in time to spend the holiday with their families.

Rhonda Rich, whose husband is a member of the 155th, said the guard members are expected to begin returning home today, with more expected in the coming week.

&8220;This is the greatest Christmas present I could get,&8221; Rich said.

Family members are hoping to greet the soldiers at Camp Shelby, where they will turn in their weapons and have a brief meeting before they are able to go home.

Rich said those returning this weekend are lucky to be able to spend the holiday with their families before returning to Camp Shelby for a full debriefing next week.

Rich could barely contain her excitement Thursday as she described her plans to greet her husband at the military base near Hattiesburg.

&8220;I will hit the road as soon as my eyes pop open,&8221; Rich said.

The members of the 155th went to Iraq in January.

Almost 3,5000 soldiers are part of the 155th. One hundred of those soldiers came home earlier this month. The rest are expected in waves throughout the next few weeks.

The unit &8212; with members from Pennsylvania, California, Washington, Texas, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Utah, and Arkansas &8212; was attached to the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

The troops spent much of their time battling insurgents and rooting out clandestine weapons stashes in the so-called &8220;Triangle of Death&8221; in the Karbala, Najaf and Babil provinces of Iraq, the military has said.

Fourteen Mississippians in the unit were killed in Iraq, most by roadside bombs.

The 155th Family Readiness Group is planning a major celebration in Natchez for Jan. 21.

Anyone interested in donating to the homecoming celebration can give to a fund at Britton & Koontz First National Bank.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.