Irvine-Based Reserve Unit Is Last in Region to Return : Gulf War: Fifty soldiers of the 6632nd Port Security Detachment are greeted by family and friends. The unit was also among the last to be called up.

Fifty Irvine-based Army reservists, who were called up to guard returning ships just as the Persian Gulf War ended, arrived here Tuesday night, the last reserve unit in Southern California to return home, officials said.

“They were the last to be called and the last to come home,” said Candy Herrera, 28, who waited anxiously at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Irvine to greet her husband, David, 25, an Army specialist. “It just doesn’t seem fair. A lot of those in the unit really wanted to go to the Gulf, but they didn’t have a chance,” she added.

Herrera, of Upland, and others gathered at the center holding yellow balloons and signs welcoming the reservists home. The Army band played as the troops were paraded into the auditorium before about 300 family members and friends. Representatives of local politicians were present, along with Irvine City Councilman William A. (Art) Bloomer, a retired Marine Corps general who once was the commanding officer of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Bisset, commander of the 63rd Army Reserve Command at Los Alamitos, greeted the soldiers.

Most other military units in Orange County, both reserve and active duty Marines, that were called up for Persian Gulf duty returned in late spring and early summer.

“I was happy he did not have to go to the Persian Gulf,” said Laura Barnes, 22, of Ontario, whose husband, Paul, a sergeant, was part of the military police unit from Irvine, the 6632nd Port Security Detachment. “But I think he would have liked to go. They all did, I think.”

The unit, made up largely of law enforcement officers from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, was activated Feb. 23 and did not leave for San Francisco until March 1. The war ended Feb. 28. The detachment was later split, some going to Sunnypoint Military Ocean Terminal in Southport, N.C., and others to ports in Texas, Oakland and San Diego. Some sailed on ships to the Persian Gulf to make sure returning munitions were secure.

Irvine’s 6632nd is part of the 63rd U.S. Army Reserve Command at Los Alamitos. Nearly 3,000 of the reserves were called up during the Persian Gulf War. The command has 22 units located in California, Nevada and Arizona.

Reserve spokesman Ted Bartimus said no one from the 6632nd or the 63rd was killed or injured during active duty, although some transportation units were on the front lines during the four-day land war. The reserve command has units that range from veterinarians to military intelligence specialists.

“We were real fortunate,” Bartimus said. “There were no related injuries even though we got 20 Bronze Stars, which you have to be in a combat area to win.”

The Irvine reservists landed at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday evening from a staging area at Ft. Ord. They were bused back to the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Barranca Road.

“I am glad he’s home,” said Chris Kingery, 23, talking about her husband, Frank. She added that their 2-year-old son, Duncan, could hardly wait to see his father.