Dalrymple Honors Guardsmen Following Yearlong Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo

Press Release

Gov. Jack Dalrymple today honored about 40 members of the North Dakota National Guard Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment during a Freedom Salute ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck. The Bismarck-based unit returned home in October following a yearlong peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

"Today, we officially welcome home the men and women of the 2-285th Aviation Regiment and thank them for the outstanding work they accomplished while supporting peacekeeping operations in Kosovo," Dalrymple said. "They performed an important mission and provided essential assistance to U.S. and NATO forces. We are pleased to have them back home in North Dakota and are grateful to them and their families for their honorable service."

While deployed, the aviation soldiers operated UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of the Kosovo Forces (KFOR 18) Aviation Task Force. The unit supported the U.S.-led Multi National Battle Group East, which conducts military peace support operations in Kosovo. Their mission provided air transport for U.S. and NATO forces, including training and assistance to the Kosovo Security Forces.

This deployment was the company's second in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The unit deployed to Iraq in 2009 and flew more than 750 combat missions while assigned to the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division.

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