By Adam Hammer and Nathan Cooper, staff writers

He’s been there and he’s done it twice. He’ll be going a third time, and probably even a fourth.

But for now, Zac Stuart is enjoying his time home with his family in Albert Lea from his National Guard post in Iraq where he said temperatures in his truck have reached 136 degrees with the air conditioning on.

Stuart flew in to Minnesota on Wednesday and just hours after he was picked up at the airport in the Twin Cities, he paid a special visit to Elks Lodge 816 in Albert Lea to return a flag to the club who donated it.

Stuart presented Exalted Ruler Mike Jensen with a flag that was flown over Stuart’s post in Iraq as a way to say thank you from the troops for their donated care packs and support.

&8220;We’re glad to help out,&8221; Jensen said. &8220;Anytime we can help, we will.&8221;

Jensen said the flag will be flown one last time outside the Elks on Friday before being retired.

Stuart’s stepfather Rudy Adams will raise the flag in the morning. Adams served in the military, as did Stuart’s biological father, and knows firsthand the risks of a major military operation.

&8220;The changes can come quick,&8221; Rudy said. &8220;I do worry about my son.&8221;

Stuart’s mother, Becky Adams, works at the lodge and has been involved with organizing care packages for the troops with Ramona Anderson. Adams said the family is grateful to the Elks and the citizens of Albert Lea who have donated time and materials to ensure troops of this area are remembered.

The guardsman didn’t come to meet with Jensen alone, he came with his mother, his 2-year-old son Chase Dakota and sister Cassandra Stuart. When he got to the lodge, he was greeted with a hug from his father and a handshake from long-time friend Josh Gulberandson.

&8220;And now for a cold beer,&8221; Stuart said following his presentation to Jensen.

Stuart’s friends and family followed the call and bellied up to the bar at the Elks Lodge for a few beers over conversation and a lot of catching up.

Stuart has spent a lot of time overseas in active duty since he joined the military in 2000 after graduating from Albert Lea High School.

&8220;The first time around I didn’t like it,&8221; his mother said. &8220;But the second time I was okay with it. I still worry a lot about him.&8221;

He was deployed with the 133rd Infantry Division for the first time spanning a year between 2003 and 2004.

After returning from the peacekeeping mission, he found out last summer he was heading to another troubled area of the world &045; Iraq. Before he left on his first mission, Stuart and his

family were a bit apprehensive about heading to Kosovo.

While Becky said she has a deep concern for her son, she also said she knows he is in good hands.

&8220;He tells me when he’s going to call and if he doesn’t call when he says he will I would start getting worried,&8221; she said. &8220;But I don’t worry about if he’s going to be okay today.&8221;

The family was a bit more prepared for the first deployment than they were for the second.

&8220;I was kind of astonished we had to go on another deployment just a year later,&8221; Stuart said. &8220;But it wasn’t too overwhelming. I knew what I had to look forward to.&8221;

His stepfather had similar feelings.

&8220;I was kind of stunned,&8221; Rudy said. &8220;I wasn’t really prepared for him to leave. I couldn’t believe he was going to be involved in that situation. I was just stunned.&8221;

Much of that looking forward included care packages collected from drop sites around town for Albert Lea’s troops and constant contact with friends and family via phone calls and Internet connections. Stuart said he called home about once a week. He noted how much people enjoyed the packages from home his own family, as well as items from other Albert Lea residents.

Stuart said he enjoys his time serving his country, and has just enlisted for six more years of active duty. He will return to Iraq Aug. 11 after two short weeks in Albert Lea.

&8220;I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool things being in the National Guard and I doubt this will be the last trip,&8221; he said. &8220;I’ll probably be going somewhere, sometime again.&8221;