Guardsmen from Hampton Roads reunite with families

Posted to: Homecomings Military News

Image 1 of 3 | Click for more

Lt. Col. Walt Mercer of Hanover County leads a formation of soldiers from the Virginia National Guard on Saturday at the start of their homecoming ceremony (Courtesy photo by Maj. Cotton Puryear).

By Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 11, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH

About 350 National Guard soldiers from southeast Virginia were reunited with their families at a ceremony Saturday at Camp Pendleton.

The soldiers had served in Iraq and Kuwait since September.

The soldiers are assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment. About 50 soldiers from A Troop arrived at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. The soldiers arriving Saturday were from A Troop, B Troop, C Troop and Headquarters Troop, the National Guard said.

The soldiers provided security in Kuwait and Iraq, protecting coalition camps and convoys and searching vehicles.

National Guardsmen based in Charlottesville, Leesburg, Woodstock, Winchester and Fredericksburg also arrived home recently.

“We have welcomed home just over 1,000 Virginia National Guard soldiers in the last two weeks,” said Maj. Cotton Puryear, a guard spokesman. “It’s been a great two weeks for the Virginia National Guard bringing these soldiers home.”

Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com