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LIBERTY TWP. — When Army Spc. Patrick Heitfeld arrived at his Squaw Valley Drive home on Wednesday evening after an 18-month tour — 16 of which were spent in Iraq — he was looking forward to a good night's sleep on his own waterbed.

"It's a lot better than the old, rusty spring bed," Heitfeld said of his

sleeping arrangements in the Army.

Hours after the 2001 Lakota West High School graduate flew in from Alaska, he was relaxing on the living room couch surrounded by family and his grandmother's 12-year-old, long-haired Dachshund, Rudy.

The 24-year-old said he has no immediate plans other than to spend a lot of time with family and friends.

"Just getting back to normal things," he said while sipping on a beer shortly after taking in his favorite Skyline Chili, which he visited after landing at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, where more than a dozen relatives greeted him.

Besides "bumming out" around the house, Heitfeld said he also plans to cheer on the Cincinnati Bengals and catch a couple of new holiday movies like the new Sylvester Stallone flick "Rocky Balboa" and the James Bond film "Casino Royale."

He said he also plans to stay in shape while on leave by running and playing a little basketball, and stocking up on some new music for his iPod.

Heitfeld said he's just happy to be home.

"Finally, after about two years of not being here," he said.

Those sentiments were conveyed by his family and friends who gathered at the airport Wednesday afternoon.

Everyone moved aside to allow his mother, Donna Heitfeld, the first embrace. She hugged her son tightly for several moments, tears welling up in her eyes. Then one by one, 13 relatives approached to do the same, offering hugs and kisses and warm words of welcome.

Ten-year-old cousin Marshall Adam held aloft a sign that said "Welcome Home Patrick!" in green letters flanked by two miniature American flags.

"I am so glad he is back on American soil," said the soldier's grandmother Pat Holland.

Heitfeld shipped out for Iraq in August 2005 from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. His unit, the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (A Company, 2-1 infantry), helped bridge the gap between the Army's light and heavy forces with Strykers, eight-wheel armored vehicles.

Although Christmas Eve at the Heitfeld home usually means welcoming many family members from around Ohio, last year Dec. 24 was notably different.

"It was depressing," Donna Heitfeld said.

For the soldier, being in Iraq last year for Christmas felt like all days did

"Pretty much just another day," Patrick Heitfeld said. "No particular special meaning."

Heitfeld thought his tour of duty in Iraq would end four months ago. But with his bags packed and ready to go, the entire company of more than 3,500 soldiers received word their stay would be extended.

Patrick returned to Alaska in late November and his family initially got word that he would be home by Jan. 1 or Jan. 2. However, the company's sergeant filed a special request with Pentagon officials, who allowed the soldiers to return two weeks early – just in time for Christmas.

"It's good to see him after so long," said his sister, 18-year-old Tiffany Heitfeld. "Our family's finally complete."

Donna Heitfeld said her son had one stop to make on the way home from the airport.

"His one request was stopping at Skyline to eat," she said.

The family dined at the Beckett Ridge Skyline in West Chester Twp, where the store's owner, Bonnie Cornwell, paid for the young soldier's dinner – a Three-Way and a Mountain Dew.

Heitfeld's break will last until Jan. 30 – three days after his birthday – when he flies back to Alaska for the last six months of his four years of army duty.

His parents said they are proud their son did what he was trained to do and happy her kept himself safe.

"We just did a lot of praying," Donna Heitfeld said.

Also arriving at the airport on a separate flight Wednesday afternoon was an acquaintance of Heitfeld's – 2000 Lakota East graduate Pfc. David Mader, who has been stationed in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division since September.

David Mader hails from a military family. His father Bela served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and his mother Kym served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years.

"The homecoming is great for the military now," Bela Mader said. "I think it's well earned. I was in the Army during the Vietnam War and they could care less [if] we were coming home or not."

David Mader said Christmas in his home always is "a family thing" but this Christmas will be extra special.

"Because I'm going to be here, my sister, her husband and my brother are all coming in from North Carolina," he said.

His primary assignment in Baghdad was working a security detachment for the brigade commander and performing reconnaissance work for the brigade alongside the Iraqi army.