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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 12, 2007 No. 07-152 KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD 1ST BATTALION, 108TH AVIATION REGIMENT RETURNING
HOME SEPT. 14 Approximately 220 members of the Kansas National Guard will be welcomed
home from duty in Iraq during a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 14. The 11 a.m.
ceremony will take place at Landon Arena, Kansas Expocentre, One Expocentre
Drive, Topeka. Doors will be open to the public at 9:30 a.m. The public
is invited to come and show their support for these soldiers. The soldiers are members of the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment
which deployed in April 2006 to their mobilization station at Fort Hood,
Texas. In September 2006 the unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Their mission was battlefield circulation of troops and
supplies, combat air assault, and the daily air movement of VIP's and
dignitaries. "The work this unit has performed has been critical in Iraq and
they and their families can be proud of their service and sacrifice,"
said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas Adjutant General. "This unit will bring with it 15 UH-60 helicopters, although not
all of them will be available to us for use immediately, but it will improve
our state's ability to respond to local disasters and help others in a
crisis where Blackhawks might be needed," Bunting added. Brig. Gen. Jonathan Small, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army, and
commander of the Kansas Army National Guard, and family and friends will
be on hand to welcome the soldiers home. The 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation, headquartered in Topeka with companies
in Topeka and Salina, Austin, Texas, and Boone, Iowa, is an air assault
helicopter unit, flying UH-60 Black Hawks. The American Legion Riders and Patriot Guard Riders will escort the unit
to the Expocentre. -30- |
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