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Last Major Contingent Of 81st Brigade Welcomed Home

Apr- 1-2005 » Filed Under: General Military

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SEATTLE - The last major group of Washington National Guard soldiers assigned to the 81st Brigade returned to Fort Lewis on Thursday after a yearlong deployment in Iraq.

About 107 supply and maintenance soldiers with the 81st Brigade Combat Team flew into McChord Air Force Base, then in the afternoon were treated to a welcome home ceremony at the adjacent Army post 45 miles south of Seattle.

The soldiers are assigned to the brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company. While other units have been returning since February, these soldiers remained in Iraq to prepare heavy equipment such as trucks and tanks for transport back to the United States, Master Sgt. Jeff Clayton said.[...]

The brigade includes two tank battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, engineers, support troops, artillery and an intelligence company.

Stationed throughout Iraq, including Baghdad, Balad and Mosul, soldiers with the brigade conducted more than 9,000 patrols, and were involved in at least 160 combats.

Nine 81st Brigade soldiers died during the deployment.


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