Nearly 150 citizen soldiers from the Washington National Guard's Seattle-based 81st Brigade Combat Team, which went to Iraq last September, are scheduled to arrive at McChord
Air Force Base Wed. July 29 shortly before noon.
They are the vanguard of the entire 4,000 member brigade -- 2,400 of them from Washington -- who are expected to arrive home throughout the next two weeks.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg, the state's Adjutant General, together will welcome home the first arrivals.
After arriving at McChord, the soldiers will be taken to Wilson Gym on North Fort Lewis for a welcome home ceremony and to be released to their families and friends.
The 81stwas federalized on Aug. 18, 2008. After undergoing pre-deployment training at the Yakima Training Center and Fort McCoy, Wisc., they deployed to Iraq -- the brigade's second tour of duty there since 2004-2005.
Missions for 81st units in Iraq typically focused on convoy security, force protection, provincial
reconstruction and base operations.
To learn more about the Washington National Guard, see http://www.washingtonguard.org
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