National Guard soldiers based out of the Sauk Centre Armory and currently stationed in Iraq could be home sometime during the third week in July.
Captain Michael Mohs wrote this in a letter emailed Friday to family members.
"Our long deployment is coming to an end. There are a lot of questions about homecoming celebrations, reintegration training and welcome home dinners," wrote Mohs.
He continued that their date of homecoming is unknown, and they "probably won't know the exact date until two to three days prior to us leaving Fort McCoy."
Soldiers from the Sauk Centre C-Company 1-194 Armor unit were among the 2,600 soldiers from the 34th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed in October of 2005, first sent to Camp Shelby, Miss. From there they were deployed to Iraq. They were scheduled to return home in March, but a troop surge extended their tours.
Soldiers, who call themselves the "Red Bull" division, started arriving home in waves last week, according to information from Minnesota National Guard Adjutant Gen. Larry Shellito. He said the exact date each unit will leave Iraq is classified information.
"We expect all our Minnesota troops to be out of Iraq by Aug. 1," said Shellito.
Mohs said that the specific date of the homecoming of the Sauk Centre unit is uncertain and will depend on how long their demobilization takes. Once troops arrive at Fort McCoy, they will turn in their equipment and undergo medical evaluations, followed by reintegration training to return to civilian life.
Tentative welcome
home route
Mohs does have an idea of what the agenda will be once they head to Sauk Centre aboard busses.
"The day we return our route will be straight up I-94 to Melrose. We will drive through Melrose as a tribute to all that community has done for us," wrote Mohs.
The tentative plan calls for a Melrose Police and Fire Department escort once they exit I-94 in Melrose. Busses will travel through Melrose, past the hospital and onto County Road 186, crossing Highway 4 where the Sauk Centre Police and Fire Departments will act as escort. Busses will drive to the fairgrounds in Sauk Centre where there will be a short ceremony.
"Once the busses stop the soldiers will immediately be let off to join their families," wrote Mohs.
The company will march out onto the racetrack for a brief welcome home from the mayor, battalion commander and Captain Mohs.
"During the ceremony a detail of soldiers from our home battalion will be unloading our bags from the bus and stacking them to the side for retrieval after the ceremony. The Blue Star Mothers have generously offered to provide refreshments at the grand stand concession," wrote Mohs.
"In less than a month we will be home with you all," Mohs concluded the letter.
