N.C. Guardsmen return home

Gulfport, Miss. — Some North Carolina soldiers back from Iraq will return to the state Tuesday.

Soldiers from the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina National Guard, arrived at Gulfport International Airport in Mississippi on Saturday. They will be arriving at Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport on Tuesday.

About 120 soldiers are scheduled arrive between 4:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. and greet their families.

The Rocky Mount-headquartered National Guard Company deployed to Iraq in September 2007 along with aplatoon-sized contingent from the New Hampshire National Guard.

During their deployment, the 1132nd served with great distinction and suffered the heaviest casualties of any North Carolina National Guard company since World War II, officials said.

The 1132nd had five soldiers killed in action – four from North Carolina and one from New Hampshire. More than 20 soldiers in the group were wounded; several of those soldiers remain under medical care at military hospitals.

An official redeployment ceremony, open to the public, is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount.

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Latest Comments

Welcome home and Thank you! God Bless

K9Tucker.LoveMYcop
June 10, 2008 3:41 p.m.

Welcome home!

Worland
June 10, 2008 1:52 p.m.

welcome heros

garnertoy
June 10, 2008 1:24 p.m.

SO glad they are coming home. They have lost so much during this deployment. My prayers are with them and the families who will not be receiving their hero home when that plane lands.