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CAMP LEJEUNE – After spending two months at the center of the Haiti relief effort, Marines from Camp Lejeune returned home to their families Monday.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit was the first of two units from Camp Lejeune to deploy to Haiti. They had only been back from their previous deployment one month before they got the call.

"Words can't describe me being back home," Cpl. Robert Esquivel said.

They delivered almost 600,000 liters of water, 1.6 million food rations and nearly 19,000 pounds of medical supplies.

"We were well suited for the mission because of our amphibious capability,” Carpenter said. “We could launch from the air or the sea via surface craft, so we can bring tons of supplies."

After the initial phase of relief, they moved on to helping some of the aid organizations that were in the country.

"It was tying in the need with the person who had the ability to fill that need," Carpenter said.

Marines say the devastation on the ground was overwhelming.

"Their water was not drinkable,” Esquivel said. “There was a lot of debris from houses being crumbled."

"It was really different to see kids with no parents because they lost them in the earthquake," Cpl. Austin Feavel said.

Despite the destruction, the Marines say they know they made a difference. And now, after two deployments in short order, they say nothing can match the joy of being home.

Their unit left on three Navy ships. Only one has returned. Officers say the other two ships and about 1,600 more Marines will return by mid-April.