Base Commanders Congratulate U.S. Women's Water Polo Team

They left home heroes and they came back heroes ... with gold medals. 

Commanders at the Joint Forces Training Base congratulated the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team for returning from the London Olympics . 

"Your hard work and efforts paid off and we are all impressed and awed to welcome you back with the gold," said Lt. Col. Susan Russell, base commander.

The base pool has been the training center for the U.S. Women's Water Polo team since 1998. 

"We're always rooting for the home team and are honored that the U.S. Women's Water Polo team has used the base pool steadily and aggressively for so long and are able to come home with the 'W,'" said Lt. Col. William Mayhue, deputy base commander. "Just like in the Army, teamwork, synchronicity and hard work are always the way to the top."

The team won the gold medal Aug. 9 when they defeated Spain 8-5. This is the first U.S. win in water polo since the U.S. Men's team won the event back in 1904.

The team is scheduled to return home this week.