Last Thanksgiving, Staff Sgt. Charlie Deal was living in a chicken coop.

Wire mesh encased the building, and landscape fabric covered its earthen floors.

After eating a traditional turkey meal, Deal ventured out to a local Wal-Mart — using a payphone to call his wife.

"It definitely wasn't Butler, Pennsylvania," Deal remarked of the coop in Lafayette, La.

The chicken coop housed the U.S. Army National Guard's Company

A, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment

before the unit shipped off to Iraq in December. But the meal itself was served in a tent, said Staff Sgt. Brian McNally of Cranberry Township, a member of the unit.

Another member, Sgt. Chuck Norris of Butler, spent the holiday in Kuwait. Since his specialized job as a recovery sergeant led to an earlier departure than others in the unit, Norris missed out on turkey altogether."I was sitting in (Camp) Araf John picking up armored Humvees to take back to the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border," he recalled. "I ate another MRE — I think it was chili-mac."Since the unit returned home this month, all three will eat traditional meals in cozier surroundings.Norris, his wife, Alecia, and their three children will share the day with about 30 family members. "The guys will watch football, smoke cigars and drink scotch," he said. "Sometimes we play cards after."McNally, also listing football on the day's agenda, will eat at home with his wife, Ranai, his stepson and other loved ones. "That's his most favorite meal," said Ranai, adding that she had also cooked turkey dinners for McNally during his leaves in November and July.For Deal, topping off the holiday again will include his wife, Jodie. But instead of talking on the phone, the couple will take a weekend trip to Niagara Falls.

After a 1½-year absence, the process of "reconnecting" is part of a soldier's return home, say Deal, Norris and other members of the 1st/112th.Although some aspects of home remain constant and familiar, others have changed in the time that has lapsed.Before his departure, Deal did most of the family driving. But necessity forced Jodie behind the wheel. "I don't like the way he drives," she laughed, explaining her newfound independence has spurred control issues around the car, as well the remote control.Alecia Norris is happy to share responsibilities with her husband again. But it took some getting used to after a year and a half."It was an adjustment. I did what I wanted for so long," she said.In the case of the McNallys, Ranai was left with the responsibility of selecting a mobile home for the couple to purchase — a choice McNally supported.Because not all changes occur as smoothly as with the McNallys, Norris said a mandatory cool-down period at Fort Dix in New Jersey was part of the group's transition home. "You don't come home and just jump right in where you were. It doesn't work that way," he said.Norris, whose job put him face to face with the aftermath of violence, said he had been a little jumpy upon first arriving home. "I ran over 100 recovery missions," said Norris, whose job was to retrieve vehicles after they had been blown up or otherwise damaged."You always worry 'How different are they going to be when they come home?'" Jodie Deal agreed.Out of sync with their old routines, all three said after a week they had not completely resumed the previous rhythm of life at home.All alsoagreed personal freedom was among the best parts of returning. Freedoms included civilian benefits like deciding to hop in the car and go somewhere. "Going anywhere I want. Doing what I want to do," McNally said."Being away, you miss some things," Norris said. "You couldn't run down to Sheetz and get a (made to order sandwich). You miss your family. It gets lonely after a while."Reuniting with families also provided an awakening for many of the soldiers — especially since lapsed time was evident through changes in children.The Norrises' son, Chuckie, 16, and daughter, Nichole, 14, have begun to resemble young adults instead of children. Kaylee, 11, has also transformed.The Deals described how their 5-year-old son, Patrick, was confused by his father's temporary visits home, which led to even more confusion about the permanent return.Deal likened his 10-year-old daughter, Kylee, to Velcro, since she is never far from his side."There's no time for just us to talk," Jodie said. "(But) they're starting to calm down."Another adjustment for soldiers was parting with their peers, who had become like family.McNally, whose platoon patrolled the northern part of Tikrit, said his job as a squad leader kept him focused. "It keeps you busy," he said. "My guys made it easy for me. My guys were pretty squared away.""I miss my guys,"agreedDeal. "For a while we lived like animals, but that brings you closer. … You rely on each other."

Despite her family's gradual return to normal, Jodie Deal said her husband's time in Iraq has in some ways changed her outlook for good. Taking her husband and her freedom for granted, for instance, are mindsets she has abandoned."It was fun going grocery shopping together," Jodie said of simple pleasures she now knows are important."Things that used to bother me don't bother me anymore. It's sad that something like this has to happen in order to appreciate everything that you do have. It's wanting what you have, not what you don't have.""It's hard to put into words," Ranai McNally said. "When you love someone and they've been gone for so long: I feel like I'm dreaming. … I think this is going to be the best Thanksgiving because I know in my heart he's not leaving again.""It's good to be back together," McNally agreed.<br></br><br></br><br></br>