Pat Canerdy

Staff Photo by Allison Kwesell Spc. Stacey Thomas, of the 591st, stands with his son, Landon Thomas, 1, and wife, Courtney Thomas, outside of the army reserve unit on Bonny Oaks Drive after being deployed for one year in Iraq.

After viewing the endless sands of Iraqi desert for a year, 1st Lt. Matthew Roberts immediately noticed the green grass when he got home.

"Four days ago, we were in the desert with sand as far as you can see," he said Friday. "Here, there are clouds in the sky. You can smell the grass. It's very vivid. It's so good to see it and smell it."

1st Lt. Roberts, from Nashville, was one of 18 soldiers with the Army Reserve's 591st Transportation Detachment who returned to Chattanooga on Friday afternoon after spending a year in Tallil, Iraq.

The group was greeted at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Hickory Valley Road by family and friends waving American flags, "Welcome Home" signs in patriotic colors and the release of 1,000 yellow balloons into the air when its bus pulled up.

The unit had been in the United States since Monday, when it landed in Fort Campbell, Ky. Soldiers then proceeded to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for out-processing, said unit administrator Pat Canerdy.

The unit has 23 soldiers, but two returned early, two lived in Indiana and remained there, and another one was finishing administrative work in Indiana, officials said.

The welcome-home event Friday was the first time Mrs. Canerdy, who was deployed with the unit in 2005, experienced such a celebration stateside.

"You get a lump in your throat waiting for them," she said. "And then it's good to see them. We were very excited when they hit the ground Monday."

The 591st acted as the 411 center for southern Iraq, helping others find information, coordinating flights in and out of the area and uploading convoys to ensure cargo reached its correct destination, said Spc. Edward Lesinski. The work often lasted 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

But what Spc. Lesinski will most remember is the heat, he said.

"It was hot, like 135 degrees," he said. "There's no humidity. It's like being on a grill."

Spc. Lesinski's dad, Richard, said anxiety plagued his life from the moment his son left the country until he stepped off the bus.

"There were times I didn't hear from him for weeks," Mr. Lesinski said. "Your mind starts thinking different things about what might have happened."

But the main feelings were sheer joy and pride when he finally saw his son Friday, he said.

"I'm proud of what he's doing to serve his country," he said. "I'm proud of his patriotism. There are not as many patriotic people as we used to have."

Most combat troops are due out of Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010, President Barack Obama previously has said, with the final withdrawal occurring by December 2011.

The 591st experienced the beginning of the withdrawal from Iraqi cities, especially the shifting and movement of troops between bases, said Staff Sgt. Edward Burdyl.

"There were 200, 300 troops moving at one time," he said. "Things get pretty hectic."

The likelihood of the 591st being deployed again is low, Mrs. Canerdy said, though any of its soldiers could be called upon to deploy with other units.

An official ceremony for the unit will take place Aug. 22 at the VFW Hall on Lee Highway.