Wichita ? Pfc. Patrick Miller, the Kansas soldier who was among those freed after being held prisoner in Iraq, is back home.

Miller, 23, arrived at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport at 10:35 p.m. Thursday on a flight from Houston. He avoided news reporters waiting for him in the main terminal, using another exit to leave the airport on his way home to nearby Park City.

Miller and other members of the 507th Maintenance Company captured with him arrived back at Fort Bliss, Texas, last weekend. They were released from an Army hospital there on Wednesday in preparation for 30-day leaves.

Miller will be able to go to Wichita Stealth games, wear a brand-new wedding ring and wristwatch, be entertained with a Nintendo Game Boy and feel safe at home with a state-of-the-art security system, courtesy of local businesses and individuals.

“He was over there fighting for us,” said Marcelle Shaffer, manager of Belden Jewelers in Wichita’s Towne East Square, which is giving Miller his pick of wedding rings and watches. All of Miller’s personal property was reportedly taken from him during his 22 days of captivity.

“There’s not a whole lot I can do,” Shaffer said. “This is just our way of giving back.”

Miller is passing up a chance to visit with President Bush today, deciding instead to go to Manhattan for the annual spring scrimmage of the Kansas State football team. He’ll present the game ball to the team captains.

At Fort Bliss, Miller was united with his wife, Jessa, and two children, 4-year-old Tyler and 8-month-old Makenzie. They returned Wednesday to Wichita, along with Miller’s mother, Mary Pickering.

A parade is planned May 10 in Valley Center, where Miller graduated from high school in 1998. The Millers also plan to attend services at Olivet Baptist Church in Wichita on May 4.

Some of the local gifts for Miller have come through efforts of Brad Streeter and his morning show on KKRD radio.

Koby Hayes, owner of Apex Technology Solutions in Wichita, heard the show and bought a Nintendo Game Boy for the returning soldier. He also said he would offer to install a home security system for the Millers.