LANSING, MI – The governor of Michigan called deployed troops to wish them a happy Thanksgiving this year.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer called actively deployed members of the Michigan Army National Guard and Michigan Air National Guard.

“Today, there are more than 200 members of the MING serving away from their homes and families,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Whether supporting the federal law enforcement mission at the Southwest Border or protecting our national security interests around the globe, their selflessness and loyalty to their mission during these challenging times should be honored. We look forward to welcoming each unit and individual home safely to their families.”

Governor Whitmer spoke to soldiers and airmen currently deployed to Romania, Germany, Iraq, and Kuwait in support of U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command and Soldiers deployed to the Southwest Border, in support of Joint Interagency Task Force West.

These troops are tackling a wide range of challenges in each of their respective missions, bringing expertise in operations, logistics, transportation, firefighting, communications and security.

The Soldiers and Airmen are members of the:

•   217th Air Operations Group of MIANG (Battle Creek) 
• 110th Logistics Readiness Squadron of MIANG (Battle Creek)  
• 1440th Firefighting Detachment of MIARNG (Alpena) 
• 272nd Regional Support Group of MIARNG (Lansing) 
• 1463rd Transportation Company of MIARNG (Battle Creek) 

“Michiganders who serve our state and nation in uniform put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” Gov. Whitmer said. “As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s recognize the sacrifices they and their families make so we can live freely.

“Right now, many active-duty service members are apart from their families, working hard, far from home. I was honored to speak to some of them today and convey our gratitude. I hope we all take some time to honor our service members and their families this Thanksgiving and pray for their safe return home.”

Dusty May has a well-earned reputation as an offensive wizard, but his first Michigan team is winning with its defense. On Wednesday night, the Wolverines put Xavier through the wringer, suffocating a high-flying offense loaded with experience, shooting, and depth.

Every Xavier possession was grueling and laborious. Even some of the shots the Musketeers made felt worthy of ending up on a Wolverine defensive highlight reel. Xavier made 20 shots, missed 38, and turned it over 19 times.

College basketball fans love Feast Week because of the memorable back-and-forth bouts of shot-making brilliance and clutch playmaking. This was anything but. It was outright defensive domination in a 78-53 win that was supposed to be a pick-em.

I wrote in the game preview that this was the kind of game that would come down to which team could play their style against leveled-up competition. Michigan left no doubt about which team that was.

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