The Town of Grottoes welcomed back two soldiers who have spent the last year serving in Iraq.

Andrew Thomas, who arrived in Virginia Beach early Thursday afternoon, was greeted by his family.

Back at home in Grottoes, he got a police escort from the town limits to his house.

Andrew says he enjoys being able to breathe dust-free air and not having to work training Iraqi police forces.

"We were just refreshing their standard police skills," comments Andrew of his work in Iraq. "They were a little bit slacking at the beginning but once we were getting ready to leave they started picking it up,taking it over. Taking over everything themselves."

His family was always supportive of Andrew's decision.

"Me, my wife, all of his friends here were here to support him 100 percent of the way," says Eddie Thomas, Andrew's father. "It was kind of lonely, especially when his birthday came around, and Christmas, Thanksgiving."

When asked if he will return to Iraq in the future, Andrew answered, "I'll spend some time at home first, see how everything goes before I go. If I go."

Daniel McIntyre was the other soldier welcomed home in Grottoes Thursday. He served with Andrew while they were in Iraq.