There was a joyous rush. Then hugs and kisses.

“It’s good to be home and it’s great to see my boy again,” said U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. James Pilch II, of Lawrence, after planting a kiss on his 9-year-old son, Carter.

Army Sgt. James Pilch II, Lawrence, kneels and kisses his son, Carter, 9, at a welcome-home ceremony at the U.S. Army Reserves armory, 2100 Iowa. Carter appeared slightly embarrassed by all the attention as members of the 824th Quartermaster detachment greeted their families upon their return to Lawrence on Thursday from their service in Iraq. Pilch's wife, Monique, is behind Carter.

Pinckney School children swarmed around Sgt. Lori Arnold, of Lawrence, who was their fourth-grade teacher before the Iraq War pulled her from the classroom and civilian life.

“It just feels great to be back,” Arnold said. “I still can’t believe it.”

After 10 months at war, the 11 members of the 824th Quartermaster Detachment returned home Thursday to a welcoming crowd of more than 100 people at the U.S. Reserve armory, 2100 Iowa.

Family and friends had eagerly awaited the unit’s arrival at the armory from Fort Riley, where unit members were debriefed after their return earlier this week from the Middle East. And as soon as they could, the reservists rushed to their families.

But first, a formal ceremony was held in honor of the reservists, who were deployed to Iraq to help coordinate fuel shipments into the country.

“Before the war, Iraq never imported fuels,” said Col. Richard Medved, the detachment’s commander. “They just exported oil and only needed fuel for government business.”

Medved, of Olathe, said that Iraqis didn’t have much opportunity to travel around their country, but that the unit provided the chance to people by helping distribute fuel throughout Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Kathy Riley, center, holds her sons, Jacob, left, 7, and Peyton, 3, at a welcome-home ceremony at the U.S. Army Reserve Armory, 2100 Iowa. Riley, a mother of two from Overland Park, was greeted by friends and family on Thursday after serving 10 months in Iraq.

Medved told friends and family the soldiers couldn’t have completed their mission without their support. As a token of thanks for that support, he handed out specially made unit coins to family and friends.

Arnold’s husband Scott Kemme, of Lawrence, received one of those coins as a tribute to his support for her.

“Today just feels surreal,” Kemme said, looking at Arnold, who was holding a bouquet of flowers he brought her. Arnold told him in late November that her unit likely would return before Christmas.

“But I didn’t believe it until she was here,” he said. “I still don’t believe it.”

The reservists said their time in Iraq was stressful, but not as bad as portrayed in the media. Most of the time they were stationed near Dora, which is by Baghdad.

Pilch, who is the director of laboratories for Kansas University, said he previously served in Desert Storm, but that was before he was married to his wife, Monique, and had started a family.

Master Sgt. Carlos Rentas, Kansas City, Kan., stands at attention during a welcoming home ceremony. Thursday's ceremony welcomed the 824th Quartermaster Detachment back to Kansas after 10 months of service in the Iraqi oilfields.

“Having a family — that made it harder to leave,” he said.

Pilch also was greeted by his parents, Jim and Jill Pilch, of Lawrence. They said his return was the best Christmas gift they could have received.

“When he left, he told us it could be as long as 18 months,” Jill Pilch said. “So we are very thankful to have him home.”

The reservists now have up to 90 days leave before reporting back to duty. Many said they would use the time to get reacclimated to civilian life and spend time with family and friends.

Army Col. Richard Medved, Olathe, hugs his father, Thomas Medved, Leawood, as Richard's daughter, Lauren Medved, 11, looks on. Medved, who led the 824th Quartermaster detachment in Iraq, returned to Lawrence Thursday. The detachment was welcomed home by about 100 supporters at the U.S. Army Reserve armory, 2100 Iowa.

Members from the Veterans of Foreign War and the American Legion also attended the homecoming.

Elmer Lindell, an army veteran of World War II, said he still remembered his return home from fighting 60 years ago. There was no formal ceremony, he said. Lindell was dropped off and he walked home.

“I walked in my house and said to my mother ‘I made it,'” he said. “I can still remember the tears in her eyes.”

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