Brave warriors of 109th get hearty welcome home

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.comStaff Writer

Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are enjoying life back in the United States, just days after President approved sending more troops to Afghanistan.

1st Lt. Christopher Patchoski stands at attention and salutes while ‘Taps’ is played during Friday’s Operation Enduring Freedom/Multinational Force and Observers Homecoming Ceremony at the 109th Field Artillery Armory. The ceremony was held to honor service personnel who served in Afghanistan and Egypt last year.

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

Almost 150 guard soldiers from the 109th Field Artillery and Company G 228th Support Battalion were formally welcomed home during a homecoming ceremony Friday night at the battalion headquarters after serving in Afghanistan and Egypt last year during the Operation Enduring Freedom and Multinational Force and Observers missions.

Most of them arrived back on American soil in November, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. Kevin Miller commended the returning troops for completing their year-long missions to Egypt and Afghanistan.

“You have brought peace and freedom to people who never knew it. Know that you performed every job and task with distinction and honor,” Miller said.

Another 80 members of the 109th Battery B from Nanticoke are now preparing for deployment to Iraq to serve with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Earlier this week Obama said 17,000 more U.S. troops would be sent to Afghanistan to help protect that country’s residents and fight Taliban troops.

No members of the 109th are currently being deployed to Afghanistan, Miller said.

Since many unit members have served overseas in recent years, he didn’t anticipate his unit receiving additional orders to deploy to Afghanistan or other overseas missions for a number of years. But if they are needed they will answer the call.

“We don’t make policy; we follow our orders. Whatever mission that we are given, we are training as hard as we possibly can to make sure no matter where we get sent whenever that call comes we are ready to respond and do what the taxpayers pay us to do,” Miller said.

He looks forward to when members of Battery B will return stateside, so the entire unit can again train together.