CONTACT: Maj. Joseph Whaley, 516-732-9323 (cell) or 646-424-5512

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sep 27, 2012

ON SITE: Maj. Joseph Whaley, 516-732-9323 (cell) or 646-424-5512

NEW YORK (09/26/2012)(readMedia)-- Approximately 50 Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment arrive back home at their New York Army National Guard armory here for family reunions after serving in Afghanistan as part of the 27th Infantry Brigade. WHAT: Homecoming reunion for New York Army National Guard Soldiers following their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. WHO: Approximately 50 Soldiers from the 1-69th Infantry who deployed as part of the 2-108th Infantry, along with family and friends. WHEN: Thursday, September 27 at approx. 5 a.m. WHERE: New York State Armory, 68 Lexington Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. Media Opportunity: Imagery of the family reunions as Soldiers return home from a ten-month absence. Media representatives must contact. Maj. Joseph Whaley at 516-732-9323 (cell) or 646-424-5512 for access to the facility. Background: The Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment and Company C of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion deployed to Afghanistan as Task Force Iron to perform a security mission in bases around that country. While in Afghanistan, the Task Force was responsible for enhancing the capability of Afghan National Security Forces to secure Highway One from Herat City to Nimroz Province. The unit conducted 577 combat missions over the course of the summer fighting season, including combined operations with Afghan soldiers and police, as well as with NATO partners from Italy and Slovenia. The Soldiers completed their demobilization tasks at Camp Shelby, Miss. last week prior to their return home. The Soldiers will arrive at Stewart International Airport and return to their armory by bus to meet with their family members. The Soldiers were among 1,800 New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who mobilized in January for service in Afghanistan and Kuwait. This redeployment is the second arrival of troops assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, headquartered in Utica with Soldiers from armories in Ithaca, Ogdensburg, Morrisonville, Ithaca, Saranac Lake, and Gloversville. The deployment also included individual Soldiers from the 69th Infantry, based in NYC. More than 200 Soldiers from the task force returned home over the past week, including a large contingent of Soldiers arriving on Sunday, September 23 in both Syracuse and Albany. This troop redeployment will include the balance of nearly 250 Soldiers to return home. Another element of the battalion, Company A, based in Geneseo, deployed to Kuwait with other elements of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Those Soldiers will be home later this fall.