JACKSON - After capturing more than 1,500 suspected insurgents, destroying thousands of pounds of explosives and providing security for Iraq's first free elections, a Mississippi National Guard unit has completed its mission.
The 155th Brigade Combat Team turned over its area of operations in a ceremony in Iraq on Sunday to an Army infantry division, signaling the official end to a year of combat, said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin W. Reeves, a 155th spokesman.
The 155th, made up of about 3,500 Mississippi Guard soldiers from 49 communities in the state, deployed to Iraq from Camp Shelby south of Hattiesburg a year ago.
Fourteen of the soldiers died during the deployment.
"Once again, as has been the case in every generation, America has produced warriors who possessed the courage to pull themselves from the grips of their beloved children and the loving embrace of their spouse to go forward to face a deadly enemy in a far away land to defend our freedom," said Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, Mississippi's adjutant general. "We owe them so much."
About 1,600 members of the 155th have already returned home, with the rest expected to arrive in waves through mid-January. They have been flying into Gulfport, before boarding buses headed for Camp Shelby for demobilization, said Lt. Col. Doril Sanders, a Camp Shelby spokesman.
Sanders said many of the soldiers have said they are proud of the work they did in Iraq.
"One of them said, 'I didn't know why I was getting sent over there, but when I got there, I saw why they needed us," Sanders said.
Spc. Christopher Allen, who was stationed at the same base in Iraq as his father, Sgt. Tommy Allen, said he was able to help Iraqis who could not help themselves.
"We were pretty much playing body guard for these people while they get their country on the right track," he said. "I think we're doing a great thing over there. Those people need us."
The 155th's area of operations in Najaf, Karbala, North Babil and Al Anbar was turned over the Army's 4th Infantry Division, Reeves said. He said the 4th Infantry Division is the same unit that captured ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
During its deployment, the 155th battled insurgents, uncovered clandestine weapons caches and trained Iraqi security forces while also taking on several humanitarian missions.
The unit adopted schools, provided Iraqi farmers with supplies, directed infrastructure improvements and offered medical care to Iraqi children, officials have said.
"Due to the 155th BCT's active involvement in local communities, almost $100 million was committed to projects to improve electricity, sanitation, health care and education for the Iraqi citizens," Reeves said.
The unit also played a pivotal role in all three elections in Iraq, he said.
In January of last year, Iraqis voted for a provincial government. In October, a constitutional referendum was passed and last month there was a parliamentary election.
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