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LANSING, Mich. - Following a yearlong tour of duty in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 54 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers from the 177th Military Police Brigade returned home on Dec. 17, 2013.
Soldiers were flown to airports near their homes of record and were anxiously greeted by their families, friends, and other members of the brigade.
At the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, cheers erupted from travelers waiting at nearby gates in the airport as 18 soldiers came through the ramp doors into the main terminal from two different flights.
Master Sgt. Rebecca Witt, brigade training noncommissioned officer assigned to the 177th MP Brigade, ran up to her returning husband, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Witt, readiness NCO also assigned to the 177th, and hugged him as he picked her up and kissed her. Despite describing herself as being non-emotional, she admitted later that she was teary-eyed upon seeing him.
Other Soldiers and family members were equally as emotional as hugs and kisses were exchanged, handshakes were extended, and small American flags were waved in celebration of the Soldiers’ return.
The 177th’s mission in Guantanamo Bay was to provide safe care and custody for Law of War detainees.
Today, more than 600 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism. However, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency, including a terrorist event.
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2013 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 118461 |
| Location: | LANSING, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Michigan Army National Guard soldiers return from Guantanamo Bay deployment, by Kimberly Derryberry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
