Three Canadian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan were flown to Edmonton by military transport Wednesday after leaving a hospital in Germany.

Master Cpl. Michael Loewen, Pte. Miguel Chavez and Sgt. Darren Haggerty arrived aboard an aircraft from Landstuhl, Germany, where they were receiving treatment for their injuries.

Loewen, the most seriously injured of the three, was wheeled out on a stretcher and put into an ambulance where his pregnant wife was waiting inside.

He was the commander of a light-armoured vehicle (LAV) that was the target of a suicide attack near Kandahar last Friday.

Loewen underwent an operation Monday, but doctors say he'll need additional reconstructive surgery to save his arm at a hospital in Edmonton.

The other two soldiers -- Chavez and Haggerty -- were injured last Thursday when their LAV flipped over into a ditch after hitting a taxi.

Haggerty, who was able to walk off the plane unaided, will continue on to Winnipeg, while Chavez stayed on board to fly to Vancouver. Both will be taken to local hospitals.

A busload of 15 relatives -- including his wife, mother and three brothers -- greeted Chavez when he landed in Vancouver.

"Everybody was in tears, including me, and I don't cry that much," Chavez's older brother Boris Lopez said of the emotional reunion.

Chavez, a refugee from El Salvador, joined the military three years ago partly in gratitude for Canada accepting the family, his brother said.

"His mom said to me that when he got deployed over to Afghanistan he felt like a real Canadian, so I guess you can take it from there," said Brig.-Gen Greg Gillespie, Grant's deputy, who accompanied Chavez's family in Vancouver.

The collision claimed the lives of Cpl. Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S. and Master Cpl. Tim Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Capt. Trevor Greene, who has serious head wounds after being attacked with an axe during a meeting with village elders, is staying behind at the Landstuhl hospital.

He is in an induced coma and his situation remains critical, but stable, doctors say.

Family members as well as Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of Land Force Western Area, met with the soldiers on the plane.

Grant presented the soldiers with the Southwest Asia service medal for their service in Afghanistan.

"A wonderful occasion to be able to welcome back these three great young Canadian soldiers," Grant said.

Though the soldiers' bodies were battered, their spirits were high, Grant said.

"They're tired. It's been a long flight. They're recovering, clearly, from some serious injuries, but are very positive," he said.

"The family members that I spoke to are very supportive of their loved ones. They see what is happening in Afghanistan is a good thing and they support their husband's, or loved one's, choice of careers."

Grant also said soldiers have told him that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's commitment to see the mission through is resonating as a positive message throughout the military.

"The prime minister has made it very clear to all of us that Canada has made a commitment and he fully supports the troops in theatre. And that's what the troops want to hear, that's what the troops heard and they're comfortable with it."

With a report from CTV's Sarah Galashan