Soldiers Return Home | Video

Jessica Roose | 9/13/2012

After spending a year overseas, 55 members of the North Dakota Army National Guard are now home with their families. The 1st battalion, 112th aviation team spent the last year serving in Kosovo and they were all smiles when they arrived back home this afternoon.

The soldiers arrived by bus and were dropped off in Oakdale Minnesota, Fargo, Jamestown and Bismarck. While deployed, the task force provided aviation support throughout Kosovo.

For some it was the first time they have been home since they left last September.

"You`re gone, it`s that part of it is not fun. But we had a good mission and we did it pretty well I think, so it was a good mission," said CW4 Curt Stanley.

"We`ve grown up a lot. It`s been hard not having him here, gone through some things that we wish he was here for. So I`m glad he`s coming home though," said daughter of returning soldier Maureen Bry.

"Just glad to be back. I work full time at the hanger over here and I don`t have to be back till November. So it`s gonna be a good month," said CW4 Thomas Bry.

While in Kosovo the team trained nearly 5,000 U.S. and multi-national soldiers on how to load and unload a lift and MED-EVAC aircraft.

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