135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Homecoming

MONTGOMERY, AL (10/25/2010)(readMedia)-- The approximately 250 Soldiers from the Alabama National Guard's 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command will return to Birmingham Wednesday, after a deployment to Afghanistan. Friends, family and community members will welcome the Soldiers home at Birmingham's Fort John C. Persons Armory; 255 West Oxmoor Road. The unit is expected to arrive from their demobilization station around noon*.

While in Afghanistan the unit, led by Brig. Gen. Reynold N. Hoover, coordinated sustainment operations of U.S., NATO and Afghan forces in the theater of operations.

The 135th served as the Joint Sustainment Command in Afghanistan and was responsible for managing the flow of equipment, materiel and troops as the number of service members in Afghanistan surged during the summer months.

The unit commanded 10,000 Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors and civilian contractors throughout Afghanistan.

The 135th is the first general officer command to deploy from the Alabama National Guard since World War II. The unit is concluding a deployment that began last November at Fort Hood when a unit member was injured during the Fort Hood shootings.

Members of the media and general public are invited to attend the brief ceremony and assist the family members in welcoming home the Soldiers of the 135th.

*Note – Due to travel times and demobilization requirements, this time is subject to change with little notice. We will attempt to provide the latest information is a timely manner.

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Points of Contact:

Sgt. 1st Class Monica Davenport at (205) 940-3967, monica.davenport@us.army.mil or

Maj. Heath Lewis at (205) 940-3960, heath.lewis@us.army.mil