Oregon National Guard Continues Return Home From Second Largest Mobilization Of Oregon Troops Since WWII (Photo) -12/08/20

SALEM, Ore. - More than 200 Oregon Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Springfield and Gresham, and part of Task Force Kosovo, returned home following their ten-month deployment to Kosovo, Dec. 8, 2020. The Oregon Citizen-Soldiers arrived at the Portland International Airport, Oregon and were greeted by senior leaders before later boarding buses to connect with family and friends at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas and Lane Community College in Eugene.

The Citizen-Soldiers spent two weeks at Ft. Bliss, Texas for mandatory COVID-19 quarantine protocol prior to arriving in Portland. Since earlier this summer, Oregon Army National Guardsmen have been returning home from the second-largest mobilization since WWII. The final group of Soldiers who were deployed in Kosovo is scheduled to return home in the next few weeks before Christmas Eve. The last mobilization of Oregonians this size was in 2009 through 2010.

“2020 dynamic year, both home and abroad for the Oregon National Guard. We are happy to welcome home our team members just in time for the holidays,” said Stephen Bomar, Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Military Department.

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Photos for release:

201208-Z-CH590-0021, 0032 and 0045: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to 2-162 IN, Task Force Kosovo, returned home today from their ten-month deployment to Kosovo via Ft. Bliss, Texas, Dec. 8, 2020. The Soldiers arrived in two planeloads to the Portland International Airport and were greeted by Senior Leaders, and later boarded buses to meet family members and friends in Clackamas and Eugene, Oregon. (Photos by Master Sgt. John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

201208-Z-CH590-0109: Oregon National Guard Soldiers assigned to 2-162 IN, TF Kosovo unload their luggage and other personal items as they returned home from deployment at the Portland International Airport, Dec. 8, 2020. The Soldiers were deployed for ten months and then arrived from Ft. Bliss, Texas for two weeks of required COVID-19 quarantine before being later shuttled to meet family members in Eugene and Clackamas, Oregon. (Photos by Master Sgt. John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

201208-Z-CH590-0210: Oregon National Guard Soldiers assigned to 2-162 IN, TF Kosovo, send mobile text messages to waiting family members after they returned from deployment at the Portland International Airport, Dec. 8, 2020. The Soldiers were deployed for ten months and then arrived from Ft. Bliss, Texas for two weeks of required COVID-19 quarantine before being later shuttled to meet family members in Eugene and Clackamas, Oregon. (Photos by Master Sgt. John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

201208-Z-CM403-001, 002, 003: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to 2-162 IN, Task Force Kosovo, returned home today from their ten-month deployment to Kosovo via Ft. Bliss, Texas, Dec. 8, 2020. Family members and friends rushed to greet them as they disembarked from buses at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Ore., which shuttled the Soldiers from the Portland International Airport earlier in the morning. (Oregon National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins, Oregon Military Department)