Saturday two Wood County soldiers who recently came home from Iraq were honored by the Wood County Commissioners.

Deerwalk Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kim Marshall said "he went away a young man, and came back a man."

Chief Marshall is proud of the boy he used to know.

"He used to come up to my wife and I wanting a quarter for the pop machine," said Chief Marshall.

It's a similar story for Vienna Volunteer Fire Lieutenant Raymond Myers, I who remembers his son Raymond "Scooter" Myers, II as a little boy.

U.S. Army Specialists Zachary Whitlatch and Scooter Myers grew up.

They both graduated from Parkersburg High School and joined the army.

"I was stationed at Camp Liberty, it's in Baghdad, for a year from October to July," said Spc. Whitlatch.

They operated heavy equipment with the 821st Engineers.

Spc. Myers said, "me and Whitlatch, we got the bronze stars."

"We received it for a mission we did hanging up 1200 feet of sniper screening about 40 to 50 feet in the air," said Spc. Whitlatch.

On Saturday they were honored again.

"We are aware that your deployment to Iraq was a difficult task and that we owe you our most sincere thanks and gratitude," said Wood County Commissioner Bob Tebay.

Commissioner Tebay presented them with a letter of commendation and bicentennial coins for their work.

Back in the U.S. they continue to give to the community as Vienna and Deerwalk volunteer firefighters.