The soldiers returning today are among the hundreds of West Virginia National Guardsmen and Women who Gov. Justice honored at a deployment ceremony at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center just over one year ago.
“My wife Cathy and I saw all of these beautiful men and women leave and I said to them, ‘Godspeed,’” Gov. Justice said. “It may not seem like that long ago for some. But I know that time has not passed quickly for the families of these great young men and women, and we thank them.”
Last August, approximately 450 members of the 1-150th Cavalry Regiment and 1-201st Field Artillery – mostly West Virginians – joined forces with additional soldiers from Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina, combining to create the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, which consisted of 4,200 soldiers in total.
All units of this team traveled to Ft. Bliss, Texas and spent approximately three months making final preparations for their deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Their mission was to sustain theater readiness to conduct unified land operations and to support partner nations in making the region safer. |
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