Rochester-area Soldiers Home from Iraq

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Staff Sgt. Amanda Wheeler, from the 105th Military Police Company, counts smoke cartridges during an inventory at Contingency Operating Site Marez, in Iraq on July 6, 2011.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (12/02/2011)(readMedia)-- Members of the New York Army National Guard's 105th Military Police Company arrive back home in Western New York this weekend after a seven month deployment to Iraq.

WHAT: Homecoming of the Rochester area Army National Guard Soldiers from their deployment to Iraq.

WHO: 25 Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 105th Military Police Company.

WHEN: Between 3 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011.

WHERE: New York National Guard Armory, 76 Patriot Way, Rochester, N.Y. 14624

Media Opportunity

Visual opportunities for family reunions for the Soldiers of the 105th Militiary Police Company along with interviews of family members. Media are advised to arrive early as the Soldiers will be released as quickly as possible following their return.

Background:

The Buffalo-based 105th Military Police Company arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Thanksgiving Day and completed their out processing from active duty.

More than 90 additional Soldiers will return to their home armories in Utica, Auburn and Buffalo on December 3.

The Buffalo-based Military Police unit was the first New York Army National Guard element to deploy to Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since the president's decision to withdraw forces from Iraq is now also the last New York Army National Guard unit to deploy to Iraq.

In 2004-2005 the New York Army National Guard had more than 4,000 Soldiers, including the headquarters of the 42nd Infantry Division, deployed to Iraq.

The company which was based in the Iraq cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, was mobilized in March and was originally expected home in February 2012. Their early return is part of the Army's final drawdown from Operation New Dawn in Iraq.

Full Photo cutline:

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq -- New York Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Amanda Wheeler, a supply sergeant assigned to the 105th Military Police Company, part of Task Force Shield, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, counts smoke cartridges during an inventory at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq, July 6, 2011. Wheeler, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., earned recognition for her contributions in reducing her unit's footprint in Iraq. Wheeler turned in more than $8.6 million dollars worth of Army equipment since arriving in country in the spring of 2011. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North.