For many soldiers returning from Iraq Sunday, including Sgt. Brian Stafford and Spc. Michael Meehan, the plane into Lexington Bluegrass Airport couldn't land fast enough.

"I wanted the pilot to speed up a little bit," Stafford said. "That's all that was on my mind."

Two planes carrying 168 members of Battery B, 2nd Battalion 138th Field Artillery, a Kentucky National Guard unit, landed at Bluegrass Airport Sunday afternoon.

The soldiers were transferred to several buses and arrived at the Frankfort Convention Center for a welcome-home ceremony shortly before 2 p.m.

The welcoming ceremony included remarks from Gov. Steve Beshear and Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Edward Tonini.

The soldiers provided security for convoys at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad. They had been overseas for nine months and more than 1,500 friends and family waited for them as they stepped off the buses.

Stafford, 35, was a gun truck commander and has served in the National Guard for 15 years. Originally from Jessamine County, Stafford has lived in Frankfort for about eight years. His wife, mother, sister, grandmother and aunt were among the many friends and family on hand to greet him at the convention center.

Meehan, 22, is a 2003 graduate of Western Hills High School and was a driver and gunner in the National Guard. In addition to his family, about 20 members of his church were also on hand to welcome him home.

"It was a little overwhelming at first," he said. "It was definitely a rush to see the whole family."
His mother, Becky, 47, had a big "Welcome Home" sign and was jumping up and down when the buses pulled in to the convention center.

"I wanted him to know right where we were," she said.

Although there was always the possibility of physical harm, Meehan said the hardest part of serving overseas was being away from friends and family.

"I would be a liar if I said I wasn't scared at some point," he said. "But you had to have confidence that you and your buddies will react appropriately."

However, two soldiers of Battery B were killed in Iraq, and several others, including Meehan's childhood friend Pfc. Tyler Netherton, were wounded.

Netherton, a 2006 graduate of Western Hills High School, was seriously wounded while guarding a convoy in southern Iraq on Sept. 2. An improvised explosive device exploded near the vehicle he was riding.

Netherton has recovered from his wounds and is waiting to be either discharged or reassigned. He was on hand Sunday to welcome home Meehan and the other soldiers.

"Meehan and I grew up together, we enlisted together and went to basic training together," Netherton said. "It's good to see him again."

Meehan and Stafford both say they look forward to having a home-cooked meal too, but neither had any special requests.

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Stafford said. "It's just good to be home and smell fresh cut grass and see a blue sky that doesn't have sand blowing in it."

Both soldiers said they plan to relax at home and don't have any other parties and events planned.

"I just want to go home and sleep," Meehan said.