CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
More than 140 Soldiers of the West Virginia Army National Guard’s 821st Horizontal Construction Company (HCC), part of the 1092nd Engineer Battalion, returned to West Virginia after a nine-month deployment to the Middle East in support of operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, and Freedom Sentinel, Jan. 4, 2020, at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va.
Officials, families, and friends greeted the returning Guardsmen on their arrival in Charleston.
“On behalf of all West Virginians, Cathy and I want to welcome home all the men and women of the 821st who have been overseas defending freedom,” said Gov. Jim Justice. “We are so happy for their safe return and so appreciative of the sacrifices they and their families have made for all of us here at home.”
While deployed to the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Middle East, Soldiers of the 821st spent more than 28,000-man hours constructing a large horizontal construction project in Kuwait that consisted of cutting and filling, grading, and compacting 136 acres of desert, including the creation of two large retention ponds, and the removal of more than 1.5 million cubic yards of soil. The unit also completed construction of two MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile sites and one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile site, as well as assisted in the construction of two life supports areas that now support over 1,000 Soldiers and Airmen from both the Army and Air Force.
Over the course of the deployment, members of the 821st completed various missions and assignments throughout the CENTCOM AOR as needed, including in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, and received high accolades for their efforts continually exemplifying the motto, “Mountaineer Pride Worldwide.”
“Deployments are never easy, either on those serving or those left behind on the home front,” stated Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, Adjutant General. “The families and Soldiers of the 821st can rest easy tonight now that they are back home on West Virginia soil. They can be proud knowing they completed their mission with honor and professionalism, and that their service and sacrifices helps continue to build the noble legacy of the National Guard.”
The 821st last deployed overseas in 2008.