Gary,
From one OIF veteran to another, WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I spent my 14 months at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison. The unit I was attached to was sent in to clean up the mess made by our predecessors. I have to tell you, if it weren't for the civilian personnel who were in all of the support positions, my time there would have been more miserable than it was. At least I had a weapon. The civilians can't be armed, so you have my utmost respect. I don't know about you, but we had to stay in Kuwait for two weeks for "decompression" before we could come home. And Dave, your son is correct, that flight is the longest one I have ever taken, but when the pilot comes over the intercom and says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the captain and my crew and myself would like to be the first to welcome you home" it the greatest feeling in the world.
Welcome home Gary, and I hope we meet down the road and swap stories about our adventures.