Updated: Soldier Homecoming Thursday Marks Major Step in Iraq Withdrawal

After a year-long deployment in Iraq, maintaining helicopters and training the Iraqi Army in Operation New Dawn, more than 250 soldiers of the California National Guard's 640th Aviation Support Battalion will return home Thursday landing in the early morning at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.

The return of the 640th Aviation Support Battalion marks the single largest homecoming of California National Guard Troops since last month when President Obama announced the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq before the year's end. In total, 500 soldiers will return home to California Thursday with half of them arriving in Los Alamitos.

The soldiers will arrive in two planes, one at 5:20 a.m. and a second one at 6:20 a.m. Base officials are encouraging members of the community to come out and show their support for the soldiers.

“During their yearlong deployment in support of Operation New Dawn in Taji, Iraq, the 640th ASB was the only unit of its kind, playing a vital role in the maintenance, fueling and logistical requirements for more than 250 helicopters in the theater of operations,” Lt. Jan Bender said in a written release. “The 640th also trained the Iraqi Army, helping to build and reinforce their aviation logistical capabilities to ensure their success as a nation.”

California lost more guardsmen in the Iraq and Afghan wars than any other state with 27 dying in combat during the Iraq War. More than 15,000 California National Guardsmen have deployed to Iraq since the war began in 2003.

What do you think of the troop withdrawal and Thursday's homecoming? Share your thoughts or offer a welcome home to the soldiers in the comments box.