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CONTACT: Eric Durr (518) 786-4581 or (518) 429-5186
FOR RELEASE: Saturday, May 31, 2008

Rochester- Based National Guard Aviation Unit Returns Home

B Co, 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation Spent 10 Months in Afghanistan

The Rochester-based New York Army National Guard Soldiers of B Company, 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation will return to their Patriot Way Armory at Greater Rochester International Airport on Saturday, May 31. The 55 members of the unit spent 10 months in Afghanistan providing air assault and transportation support to the 101st Air Assault Division and 82nd Airborne Division. The Soldiers spent one year on active duty, leaving home in May of 2007. The unit operates CH-47 D Chinook helicopters. These heavy lift helicopters are especially useful in the high altitudes of Afghanistan’s mountains. The unit members arrived in Fort Dix, New Jersey on May 23 and have spent the past week out processing from active duty. No members of the unit were injured during their tour of duty. “These Citizen Soldiers provided exemplary support to U.S. Army and Coalition allies operating in some of the toughest conditions and toughest terrain in the world,” said Colonel Mark Burke, the commander of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. “We’re proud of them and we are happy to have them home.” The unit members will return to their home armory Saturday morning to be reunited with their families. The members of the unit have requested that no media be present so they can share that time alone with their loved ones. The first of two reintegration events will be held on July 12-13 for the Soldiers of the 3-126 Aviation and their families as part of the New York Army National Guard’s program for welcoming Soldiers back from combat. The Soldiers and their families will be invited to a hotel setting where they will meet with specialists on veterans’ needs and services. Members of the media will be invited to that event.
© NYS DMNA Press Release:Rochester- Based National Guard Aviation Unit Returns Home
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1212409560
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Page Last Modified: Jun 02, 2008