Wyoming welcomes home 44 Guardsmen Wednesday

  • Published
  • Wyo. Military Department
Forty-four Wyoming National Guard troops will return Wednesday from deployments to Kosovo and Afghanistan.

The group includes 23 Soldiers from Detachment 3, B Company, 777th Aviation, and 21 Airmen with the 153rd Airlift Wing, both based in Cheyenne.

"We are thrilled to have our men and women home from their federal duties, serving our state and nation in a time of war," said Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner, adjutant general for Wyoming. "We continue to demonstrate our Guardsmen are the right people for the right jobs no matter where they serve."

The returning troops are from three separate deployments. The 23 Soldiers assigned to Detachment 3 provided aviation maintenance support for the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation, North Dakota Army National Guard, during a year-long deployment to Kosovo. The unit left Wyoming on Sept. 23 and will return via commercial travel to airports nearest their respective homes.

Five Airmen with the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 153rd Airlift Wing, will return after four months serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A welcoming ceremony is planned for them at 2:15 p.m. at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base.

A C-130 transporting 16 Airmen, assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, from Afghanistan will also return after providing airlift capabilities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A welcoming ceremony is planned for them at 3:45 p.m. at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base.

Media planning on attending ceremonies at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base must contact Wyoming National Guard public affairs, at 307-772-5253, or ngwy.pao@ng.army.mil, no later than noon, Wednesday.

Wyoming National Guard returning troops

Detachment 3, B Company , 777th Aviation
     Cheyenne: Four Soldiers, Cheyenne Regional Airport, 11:05 a.m.
     Denver: Nine Soldiers, Denver International Airport, 7:32 a.m. and seven Soldiers, 10:50 a.m.
     Billings, Mont.: One Soldier, Billings Logan International Airport, 7:32 a.m. and one Soldier, 9:38 a.m.
     Rock Springs: One Soldier, Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport, 2:39 p.m.

187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
     Cheyenne: Five Airmen, Wyoming Air National Guard Base, 2:15 p.m.

153rd Airlift Wing
     Cheyenne: 16 Airmen, Wyoming Air National Guard Base, 3:45 p.m.