Iraq

Another group of National Guard soldiers are coming home to Central Minnesota. They'll be arriving at the River's Edge Convention Center at 4:50 p.m. The general public is invited and encouraged to come out and welcome them home.

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After nearly nine years, the war in Iraq has been formally shut down. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other U.S. officials took part in a Baghdad ceremony today retiring the flag of U.S. Forces-Iraq.

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The drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq means a new deployment for a Minnesota National Guard unit. About three dozen members of an assault helicopter battalion are shipping out as part of Operation New Dawn.

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This will be an especially happy Thanksgiving for 70 Minnesota National Guard soldiers and their families. WJON was at the Aviation Facility when they returned home to St. Cloud today (Wednesday).

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Seventy soldiers from the St. Cloud are coming home, just in time for Thanksgiving. The solders from the St. Cloud-based Company B, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment will be back in town tomorrow (Wednesday).

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Sartell City Councilman David Peterson is heading back overseas with the Minnesota Army National Guard. Peterson, who's a captain in the National Guard, says he's being deployed for the second time in three years - this time to serve a seven-month stint in Afghanistan.

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Relatives say a 20-year-old Army medic from Madelia has died while serving in Iraq. Family members say Emilio Campo, Jr., was killed Monday during combat. The Department of Defense did not immediately release details.

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Ten St. Cloud area soldiers will be armed with a new G-P-S unit, when they leave for Iraq on Friday. The St. Augusta American Legion Post 621 donated the G-P-S units, with the help of Lowranz Electronics. Lowranz spokesman Mike Schnettler says the units will be a value tool for the soldiers.

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Several departure ceremonies for the Minnesota National Guard will be held in Central Minnesota over the next few days. The First Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, is scheduled to depart Minnesota in the next few weeks in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq.

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Four soldiers from Camp Ripley are leaving today (Wednesday) for Iraq. They will ensure military equipment is prepared to leave Iraq over the next year, during Operation New Dawn.

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