Wisconsin National Guard troops return after yearlong deployment in Middle East

APPLETON, Wis. — More than 200 Wisconsin National Guard troops are back home this weekend.

The troops based out of Appleton returned on Friday after a deployment throughout the Middle East for more than a year.

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment were treated to a warm welcome home by family and friends at Appleton Flight Center.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Hayes said seeing his family again after being gone for so long was amazing. He said it was especially emotional reuniting with his daughters and his 3-year-old son.

“It was kind of… honestly, kind of tear-jerking a little bit. I was trying to hold… It was hard to hold it back, you know? It’s hard to watch him grow through a phone, you know?” Hayes said.

Major General Matt Strub, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, said troops’ mission included conducting security operations in nine different countries.

He said they also took part in the largest transfer of enemy prisoners of war in Central Command history.

“How long they serve depends on the individual. But this was just a normal one-year rotation into the Middle East to just provide that security that the U.S. needs in the region. During the time they were gone, Operation Epic Fury kicked off. Their mission changed slightly, but still to provide security for the region,” he said.

Gov. Tony Evers was on hand to welcome the troops back to Wisconsin.

Strub said the celebration on Friday was well-earned and well-deserved.

“When they see the fire cannons, the water cannons, when they see the families with the balloons and signs, it’s truly… The joy swells up. The emotion of being gone wells up. You really just feel like you’ve… You’re welcomed home in a positive way,” he said.

Hayes said he felt blessed to be back home with his family.

“I feel really good to be home, be with my kids, another deployment under my belt. That just puts everything into perspective, like how lucky we are back here in the United States to have what we have and be able to have this,” he said.

This group of soldiers worked as part of the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. They worked alongside NATO partners before wrapping up their deployment.