Soldiers of Jefferson City-based Detachment 40 return home

By: Lt. John Quin
Missouri National Guard Public Affairs






JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - After 10 months supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, the nine Missouri National Guardsmen of Detachment 40 of the Operational Support Airlift Command returned home to Jefferson City on Saturday.

The Soldiers were welcomed home by Family and friends at the Jefferson City Flight Facility on Cooper Drive. During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Larry Kay read a letter from Gov. Jay Nixon to the Soldiers thanking them for their service.

"On behalf of the people of Missouri, whom you serve and represent with distinction and honor, I welcome you home from Afghanistan and thank you for your service to Missouri and the United States," Nixon wrote.

The Jefferson City-based unit has been deployed since August. While deployed, the detachment supported the Wounded Warrior program by transporting wounded Soldiers from Fort Polk, La. to San Antonio, Texas for treatment. The unit supported missions to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They have also flown distinguished visitors around Afghanistan, primarily in the C-12 Huron, a twin-engine turboprop airplane; they perform a similar mission in Missouri when not deployed.

Brig. Gen. Marty Robinson welcomed the Soldiers home and thanked their Families for their sacrifices and support.

"Since August of last year, you've served your nation and been outstanding representatives of Missouri," Robinson said.

Robinson also noted that in addition to the unit's exemplary overseas service, they were recognized with the Unit of the Year Award in the Small Army - West category. The unit has earned the award in three of the past four years.

At the end of the ceremony, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Don Muschler, the detachment commander, released his Soldiers back to their Families. Spc. Josh Lecomte summed up how it felt to return to Jefferson City.

"This is the best feeling I've had in my entire life," Lecomte said.



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Posted: 6/26/2010 4:53:51 PM