RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Four units of the North Carolina National Guard, including one from Gaston County, will hold demobilization ceremonies this weekend after returning home from overseas deployments.
More than 100 soldiers of the 514th Military Police Company based in Winterville returned home in May after a year in Afghanistan supporting and training the nation's police and conducted convoy security operations.
Three soldiers from the unit were killed in October. Army Sergeants Thomas Butler, Jeremy Hardison and Staff Sgt. Donna Johnson were killed in a suicide bomb attack while on patrol with Afghan police.
About 160 soldiers from the 875th Engineer Company based in Wilkesboro returned in April after a year of building fortifications, troop housing and airfield infrastructure in Afghanistan and Kuwait.
Another 320 soldiers with the 505th Engineer Combat Battalion based in Gastonia and the 882nd Engineer Company based in Taylorsville returned in April after a year based in Kuwait.
Members of the units collectively earned about 580 awards, ranging from Army Achievement Medals to Bronze Star Medals.
The demobilization ceremony for the 514th Military Police Company is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hilton hotel in Greenville.
The ceremony for the 505th Engineer Combat Battalion is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday at Bethlehem Church in Gastonia.
The ceremony for the 882nd Engineer Company will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Peace Haven Baptist Church in Yadkinville.
The ceremony for the 875th Engineer Company is set for Sunday at 10 a.m. at the John A. Walker Center at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro.