HARTFORD – Ninety soldiers in the Connecticut National Guard were honored in a formal welcome home ceremony Wednesday. The “Freedom Salute” ceremony at the William A. O’Neill Armory recognized two units that recently returned from deployments.
The 192nd Military Police Battalion, based in Niantic, deployed 55 soldiers to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on March 12, 2015. They were assigned to detainee operations before returning on January 27, 2016.
The 143rd Regional Support Group, based in Middletown, deployed 35 soldiers to Afghanistan. From April 9, 2015 to December 22, 2015, they were responsible for a large, high-profile base in Kabul comprised of more than 2,500 NATO personnel.
The 143rd RSG had an unusual deployment. They were given only around a month’s notice, when typically units have up to two years to prepare for a mission.
“It’s always hard to leave with one year’s notice, 18 months’ notice, but with a few weeks, for those with children and parental responsibility, it is extremely difficult,” said Col. John Wiltse, of the 143rd Regional Support Group.
He said, “It is our families and our employers and all of those that have to fill in the pieces that really deserve a lot of the credit.”