BISMARCK, N.D. — Forty-five Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard’s Bismarck based Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment (C/2-285th AVN) are coming home to North Dakota on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Their charter flight is scheduled to arrive at the Bismarck Airport ’s main terminal by at 2:20 p.m. (CDT). Two of the Soldiers live out of state and will travel separately to Minnesota.

The public is invited to show their support by welcoming the Soldiers home. Media is invited and no pre-coordination is required.

Flight times are always subject to change – we will issue any changes as soon as possible if they occur.

The 47 Soldiers arrived at Fort Sill, Okla. last Wednesday, in order to participate in the demobilization process. Company C has been on active duty since last October and served in Iraq since December.

The unit flew more than 750 combat missions totaling more than 6,200 flight hours. Assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, they were responsible for transporting senior officials, Soldiers, medical supplies and other cargo in Iraq. The unit is commanded by Capt. Douglas Larsen, of Granville, N.D. The senior enlisted Soldier is 1st Sgt. Daniel Marquart, of Bismarck.

Company C is comprised of 10 Blackhawk helicopters and assigned crews of which North Dakota has five, with the other half comprised of Soldiers from the Utah Army National Guard. The unit consists of pilots, crew chiefs, door gunners, mechanics, fuelers and flight operations personnel.

WHO: Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment

WHAT: Return of unit from Iraq deployment by charter flight

WHERE: Bismarck Airport

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 28 @ 2:20 p.m.

MEDIA: No pre-coordination required. To connect with a public information officer while on site, call Bill at 701-220-7277.

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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,500 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, about 75 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense.  For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.