SUMMIT — Hundreds of soldiers emerged from nine buses and scanned a crowd of thousands for the faces of family and friends early Thursday evening at Boyd County Middle School, officially bringing their tour of duty in Afghanistan to an end for the time being.

The crowd of family and friends, many wearing red, white and UK blue, arrived early and anxiously awaited the arrival of soldiers from the 201st Engineer Battalion.

Sisters Elizabeth True, Nichole Horschler and Nicole True carried a trio of sequential signs asking if anyone had seen their father, Sgt. Jack True, along with his wife, Kimberly True and Gayle Velat, all from Cynthiana. The True fan club said they expected him to “give us a hug” and “love on us,” before he would request a meal made up of a bologna sandwich, Oreo cookies and milk in front of his big screen television.

Joann Dials, Ryan Dials and Andrea Dials from Phelps were waiting for Pfc. Joshua Dials, citing their pride in his service as a medic during the 201st’s time in Afghanistan. Family members predicted Dials would “probably go to bed to tell you the truth,” before taking time to “see all his friends and spend time with his family.” Dials’ supporters said they were able to stay in touch with him, although they did have growing concern for his safety as media attention shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan in recent months.

Sgt. 1st Class Bucky Hensley was to be greeted by his wife, Stephanie, as well as a small army of young people wearing red shirts and carrying signs, including Zack Elliott, who planned to “hug him around the neck.” His wife said they have already booked a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, and planned a “big family and friends gathering” for the next day.

A healthy crowd from Magoffin County waited for the arrival of Sgt. Michael Caudill of Salyersville. Along with his father, Vietnam veteran Phillip Caudill, and mother, Kashetta, were Sharon Jones, Mary Jo Branham, Doug Jones, his brother, Chris, and sister-in-law Tammy, as well as his young niece and nephew, Kayli and Brody. The family chimed together in as they listed the meal planned for their returning soldier — fried potatoes, macaroni and tomato juice, fried cabbage, salt bacon, corn bread and “the biggest glass of milk you can find.”

Roy and Margaret White along with Carla Young, all of Westwood, were near the back of the crowd as they waited for Sgt. Richard “Bub” Hall. They expected Hall to “go home with his wife, Nikki and son, Jacob,” later adding, “Jacob is his pride and joy.”

Mrs. White praised each of their soldiers for their willingness to serve and their brotherly love, and all agreed Hall would want a Taco Bell meal, and possibly a bag of Doritos, shortly after his arrival.

Spc. Joshua Allen Henderson was the soldier sought by Susan Henderson, Monte Henderson, Misty Glover, Ashley Glover, Tara Dehart, Shawna Dehart, Peri Law, Ariel Cottrill, Hayden Jones, Kimberly Jones, Dean Cottrill, Caroline Cottrill, Anita Harris and his grandmothers, Minnie Harris, and Helen Cottrill.

“He wants to go to Taco Bell,” several said in unison noting he would certainly order a bean burrito. His smiling father added, “his nickname in high school was The Beaner. Once The Beaner, always The Beaner.”

Henderson’s youngest sister, Peri Law, used stencils and markers to write “my dad was Army strong. My brother is Army strong. I hope to be Army strong” on a military issued T-shirt her brother gave to her. The family said Henderson’s late mother, Patricia, was also there in spirit.

“She is here and she’d be proud,” Susan Henderson said.

Henderson’s father, one of many Vietnam veterans present for the 201st homecoming, said he once asked his son why he wanted to go into a combat situation. “He said, ‘Daddy, you fought for me. Now it’s my turn to fight for you.’ I couldn’t argue with that.”

Spc. Walter Zimmerman of Prestonsburg was greeted by his wife, Kayla, and their children, Jadyn and Cameron, as well as his parents, Lorrie and Nick Howard. The family said they had already made plans for dinner at Ruby Tuesday.

“He wants a steak dinner and he deserves it,” his mom said.

About a dozen members of Raceland Christian Church waited for Sgt. Maj. Wendell Morris, along with his wife, Marianne Morris, who predicted he would be anxious to “go out into his wood shop and carve with his chainsaw.” Anticipating his first food request once home, she said, “banana pudding is already in the refrigerator.”

Lou and Sherry Burke of Thelma in Johnson County were waiting for Spc. Lou Burke III and Spc. Matthew Hollingshead and admitted they were anxious about their sons’ well being while in Afghanistan.

“It’s hard. It’s the hardest thing I ever went through in my life,” Lou Burke said, explaining news of American death or attacks in Afghanistan were especially difficult to deal with if there was no specific area identified in the report. “It’s a shame to be afraid to answer the phone or answer a knock on your door.”

The Burkes, along with their daughter, Jessica, and two youngsters, said both of their soldiers were almost certain to want a meal from McDonald’s, where they once worked. Considering their long period of military food, Lou Burke smiled and said, “They’d even eat Dad’s cooking.”

Charlene Colegrove and her boyfriend, Jacob Bowling, of Olive Hill waited together for a glimpse of Staff Sgt. Grayden Wesley Colegrove Jr. They said he was likely to want a simple bologna sandwich when they got home. Despite frequent communications on the MySpace Web site, his daughter said, “It seems like it has been forever.”

Lee Parker of Georgetown waited for his son, Sgt. James Parker, bouncing slightly with his son’s godchild, Kylee, on his shoulders. Parker anticipated a particularly warm welcome for his boy, saying “I’d say him and his wife are going to try to make a baby,” when he gets home. Parker said his son in the 201st met his other son, Bryan, who serves in the regular Army and is stationed in Alaska at an airport while “one was coming and one was going.”

The son who came home Thursday had already decided what he wanted for his first meal back at home, a pizza made at home by himself and his mother, Michelle.

Ponderosa Elementary teacher Mary Walden said she and others were there to greet Capt. Dennis Whitt, who her students adopted as a pen pal. Walden said Whitt sent the class photos of soldiers as well as children in Afghanistan and some of the projects the soldiers worked to accomplish.

Joe Short and his daughter, Cathy Short, drove nearly 400 miles from New Bethlehem, Pa. to greet his son, Spc. Chris Short.

“He wants a pot of homemade potato soup of all things,” his father said with a smile.

Short said he quit watching news while his son was in Afghanistan, recalling the difficulty he had watching television news of a mortar attack when his son was previously serving in Iraq.

“I just have to think of what it was like for the parents of kids fighting in World War II who didn’t hear from them for six or eight months at a time,” he observed.

Carlos and Margie Holbrook of Ashland were watching for Staff Sgt. Adam Tallent along with his brother, Christopher, and sister-in-law, Angie. With a chuckle, the said Tallent may decide to head out to Las Vegas shortly after returning home. Tallent had already told them he was craving chicken and dumplings prepared by his 91-year-old grandmother in Olive Hill for his first meal back home.

His father, seated in a wheelchair until the buses pulled into view, said he is still dealing with the after effects of a heart attack, but would not have missed the moment.

“Oh yeah. I’d a been here regardless,” he said with a proud smile.

Command Sgt. Maj. Paul David Royster also had a crowd of his own waiting, including Dick and Becky Thompson of Ashland and retired Lt. Col. James Royster, a former commander of the 201st and Vietnam veteran.

The family is planning a big dinner of “believe it or not — pinto beans,” served New Year’s style with fried potatoes and boiled cabbage with silver dollars.

James Royster said the crowded homecoming scene was a stark contrast to that of soldiers returning home from service in Vietnam.

“When I got home from Vietnam there was no reception. You landed, you got on a bus and that was it,” he said.

Once off the bus, nearly all soldiers had a cell phone to their ear trying to find friends and family.

Sgt. Jamison Fugate of Jackson said he and others in the 201st were especially appreciative of the care packages they received from home, particularly those containing Red Bull and other energy drinks. Fugate said his food craving would be satisfied with a combination of fish, fries and hush puppies from Long John Silvers.

Staff Sgt. Brian Spencer of Flatwoods held his wife, Danielle, tightly in the parking lot, with plans to “just go home with the kids. We’ve got a little boy and little girl.” Spencer said he only got to see his infant daughter for two weeks before departing for Afghanistan. Taco Bell was also calling his appetite, he said, with a distant look in his eyes as he recited his desire for “a No. 7” with crunchy tacos.

Butch and Adrienne O’Hara from Wheelersburg were among the roughly 40 members of the Patriot Guard Riders who accompanied the soldiers to the homecoming. With their daughter, Kyrie, serving in Baghdad, they said it was their honor to ride with the 201st.

“We can’t do much, but we can do this,” he said.