One soldier held his grandson for the first time while another embraced his wife, who was 14 dress sizes and 70 pounds lighter than when he saw her last.

For another soldier, coming home from the war in Iraq helped compensate for the painful memories incurred 36 years ago when he returned from Vietnam.

Clad in desert fatigues, about 60 soldiers breathed the fresh Montana air Friday for the first time since leaving for Iraq more than 15 months ago.

Soldiers with the 3669th General Maintenance Company arrived at the Aviation Support Facility at the Helena Regional Airport at around 11 a.m.

More than 400 supporters, including Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, were on hand to celebrate their return.

"More Montana heroes are coming home," Schweitzer said, a big smile written across his face. "It chokes me up to have the opportunity to welcome them back like this."

More than 25 fire trucks representing various departments around Helena led the chartered Sierra Pacific aircraft down the runway, lights and sirens blazing.

Moments earlier, the plane had done a flyby over the field, tipping its wings side to side in salute.

Penny Moon had a surprise for her husband. Over the length of his tour she lost 70 pounds with the help of her wellness coordinator Diane Arave and other friends.

"I went from a size 18 to a size four," she said. "If he could make this kind of sacrifice in Iraq, then I decided I could make a sacrifice of my own."

With her husband gone, she didn't need to keep as much food in the house. It helped her stay on top of her Weight Watchers diet. The couple has been married for 29 years. She hasn't been this fit, she said, in more than a decade.

"I wanted to do something that would blow his socks off," she said. "I don't think I can say what we'll do in the paper! But I've got an appointment for him at the chiropractor on Monday."

Later, Staff Sgt. Moon stole glances of his wife's new physique.

"I think it's phenomenal," he said. "She worked very hard. But you know what -- as long as we're together, it doesn't even matter."

Moon said support from the homefront kept he and his fellow soldiers motivated over the year. Letters of thanks, care packages and cards were among the morale boosters that arrived in camp.

"I'm really surprised by the number of people who showed up here today," Moon said. "The support from the community has been awesome. It made us feel needed while we were gone."

Others came home to surprises of their own, including Sgt. First Class Tom Johnson, one of the first soldiers off the aircraft.

Johnson, a platoon leader, held his new grandson, Auston, for the first time. The boy is the son of Brandon and Angie Johnson.

"This is my brand new grandson," said the soldier while cradling the little kid in his arms. Born in March, the boy isn't much bigger than a football. "This is the best feeling in the world. There's nothing like it."

Sgt. Erin Reynolds held the company guideon while Barbara King sat in her chair, dabbing away her tears.

When her son, Don King Jr., returned from Vietnam in 1970, the homecoming was nothing like this.

"It was a lot different when he came home from Nam," the woman said. "I was the only one there to greet him. I'm just so proud."

King himself was inspired by the homecoming.

"It's a call you don't expect to make, but it's been an adventure I was proud to take," he said of his time in Iraq.

King still remembers returning from Vietnam in March, 1970.

"There was no homecoming," he said. "But this is something special."

A downtown parade will take place today at around 11:30 a.m. to celebrate the homecoming of the 3669th. The parade will travel down Last Chance Gulch.

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair.com