Photos: D.C. Marines return home

Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, based in Anacostia, return Friday from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Family and friends bearing food and other refreshments began arriving at 1 p.m. for the upbeat gathering to welcome the detachment of about 35 Marines home at their reserve training center at Navy Annex Anacostia, in Washington. The primary mission for the Marines while in Afghanistan was traditional civil- affairs missions, such as infrastructure-development projects and support of Afghan government agencies. The 4th Civil Affairs Group is made up of Reserve and active-duty Marines and sailors from several states. This was the unit’s second deployment to Afghanistan.