BISMARCK, N.D. - The final two Guardsmen with the North Dakota National Guard's 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) are scheduled to return tomorrow. They will return via military aircraft to Bismarck at approximately 5 p.m. (CDT) Friday, March 29, a week after the main body of the unit returned from their deployment to Afghanistan after spending nearly a year working as combat engineers.
Sgt. Kory Twardowski, Dickinson, and Spc. Dillon Baer, Richardton, escorted the 818th's sensitive items and completed their demobilization's this week at Fort Bliss.
The aircraft will land at the Bismarck airport but will offload the soldiers at the North Dakota National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility Complex, south of the airport. The public and media are welcome to attend. Turn into the complex at the Huey helicopter display on Airway Avenue.
The 818th Engineer Company is headquartered in Williston, N.D., with a detachment in Hazen. It's the first time a unit from those cities has mobilized overseas for the Global War on Terrorism.
The unit is led by Capt. Robert Bohl, of Flasher, N.D., and Sgt. Maj. Rashad Schaffner, of Dawson, N.D.
Two soldiers with the unit were killed in action during the mission. Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde and Spc. Tyler Orgaard died Dec. 3, and Spc. Ian Placek was wounded in the attack.
A formal welcome home ceremony, called a Freedom Salute, will take place in about three months to honor the Guardsmen and their families.
WHAT: Final two soldiers from the 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) return to North Dakota
WHEN: Friday, March 29 at approximately 5 p.m. (CDT)
WHERE: N.D. National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility, 3406 Airway Ave, Bismarck, N.D.
MEDIA: Bill Prokopyk will be on-site: cellphone 701-220-7277