CONG Media Advisory: Colorado National Guard aviation unit deploys to Afghanistan

Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | A CH-47 Chinook helicopter from 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, Colorado Army National Guard, air lifts an M777 105mm Howitzer from Camp Grayling, Mich. to an area in the vicinity of the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich. Aug. 10, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr., 104th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CENTENNIAL, CO, UNITED STATES

12.31.2018

Courtesy Story

Colorado National Guard

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – About 50 Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers from Detachment 1, B Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, will depart for a year-long mission in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan.

Family, friends and dignitaries will bid farewell to the Soldiers at a departure ceremony Jan. 2, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado.

“These Colorado National Guard warriors are critical to our national security objectives,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh. “They’ve trained hard for this mission, and the patriotism and support of their families, employers, and communities have helped them to be ready.”

Based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, Detachment 1 is the CONG’s heavy lift aviation unit operating the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Capable of lifting 12 tons, the Chinook has been a versatile aircraft delivering air mobility in the most challenging environments since entering active service in 1962.

The unit previously deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008, Afghanistan in 2010-2011, and Kuwait in 2015. During the 2011 mission, one of the unit’s members did not return home. COARNG pilot U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Carter was killed in action during the Extortion 17 mission while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The unit supported civil authorities during the 2013 Colorado floods and during numerous wildfires affecting our state.

Detachment 1 will join forces with members of the 2-135 GSAB, Nebraska Army National Guard.

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• Date Taken: 12.31.2018
• Date Posted: 12.31.2018 13:00
• Story ID: 305846
• Location: CENTENNIAL, CO, US