But Monday, the Army Reserve sergeant major returned to his job of "city-building" as West Valley City's manager. His first tasks won't involve dramatic infrastructure improvements, but he will be making the city's annual budget and tweaking its strategic plan.

Dozens of employees greeted Pyle, extending handshakes and hugs, at a reception in his honor Monday morning.

"It's wonderful to have him back safe and sound," said Kelly Davis, chief code enforcer. The city functioned smoothly in Pyle's absence - Assistant City Manager Paul Isaac stepped in as manager - but long-term planning was more difficult, Davis said.

"He was missed," said Pyle's personal assistant, DeAnn Barney. "You couldn't have a better [boss]."

Pyle, 42, has served only two active tours in his 20 years in the military - both during his tenure as city manager. After landing the job in fall 2002, he spent nine months in 2003 conducting training at Fort Carson, Colo. In December 2005, he left for Afghanistan.

"It's really difficult . . . from a professional standpoint," Pyle said. "I hope I won't have to get called up again. I think I'm done."

But leaving behind his wife, Sue, and four kids, ages 11 to 18, was the hardest part of his absence. The 10 days he spent in Fort Bragg, N.C. - held up by procedural delays - before returning home were the longest of his tour. Seeing his family at Salt Lake City International Airport on Valentine's Day was a "very happy moment."

Pyle never experienced an attack, although he missed some episodes of violence "by minutes." His duties took him all over Afghanistan.

He saw roads being paved that hadn't been repaired in decades, and the nation's first unified power system beginning to take shape.

"There is real progress," Pyle said. But "things are so devastated, it's going to take a decade at least before Afghanistan can stand by itself."

Although U.S. troops in Iraq outnumber those serving in Afghanistan by nearly 8 to 1, Pyle said he supports President Bush's decision to boost the number of military personnel in Iraq.

"It was obvious what we were doing wasn't working," Pyle said. "I'm in favor of the surge - as long as it's part of a greater strategy . . . toward the long-term stabilization of Iraq. I don't think just putting 20,000 troops [in Iraq] is going to solve the problems of the war."

Mayor Dennis Nordfelt welcomed Pyle's return.

Even in Pyle's absence, Nordfelt said the city "continued onward and upward," thanks to the service of Isaac and of Nicole Cottle, deputy city attorney, and Layne Morris, housing director, who both stepped in as assistant city managers.

"I've been very grateful that we were able to accommodate [Pyle's] service. In smaller cities or smaller companies you might not be able to," Nordfelt said. "I hope this reflects [the character of] our city, that we have values that include the larger community - our country and even the world."

rwinters@sltrib.com