SYRACUSE -- 29 Soldiers returned to their families Tuesday after a year long deployment in Kuwait and Afghanistan, with 125 more on the way. The soldiers of New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Special Troops Battalion were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom taking place in Afghanistan.
They returned after demobilization at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. Family members greeted them at the New York State Armory on Thompson Road in Syracuse. Sergeant Devon Schwarz told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon, "It's been a rough year and training up to this was pretty rough, but we got through it and brought everybody back. Now we're here enjoying our families."
Two flights brought about 200 soldiers back home to cities throughout New York State, including Syracuse.
The soldiers returning to Central New York performed logistics, administrative and security missions while deployed in Kuwait. The unit supported more than 25 different missions throughout the Middle East since their deployment back in January 2012 from Camp Shelby.
The remaining 125 soldiers of the brigade are expected to return to Syracuse by the end of January.
