Formal Demobilization Tuesday for Oregon Army National Guard A Company, 249th Aviation

A/249 soldiers flew more than 1000 missions in Iraq in C-23 Sherpas such as this.

(Salem) - The official demobilization ceremony for the members of A Co., 249th Aviation, Oregon Army National Guard will be held Tuesday, at 2:00 PM at the Army Aviation Support Facility located at 1921 Turner Road SE, Salem.

Brigadier General Ray Byrne, Jr., Assistant Adjutant General, Army will be on hand to officially welcome them back to the state of Oregon and to recognize their accomplishments in a hostile theater of operations.

Family and friends are encouraged to attend this ceremony which marks the completion of a highly successful deployment into Iraq.

These Soldiers return to Oregon as recipients of a distinguished award for their efforts in theatre. A Company 249 Aviation has been selected as the Army Aviation Fixed Wing Unit of the Year.

The following Oregon National Guard Soldiers make up Alpha 249th Aviation Company:

• SSG Christopher Brown ? Salem, OR
• SFC Richard Fields ? Salem, OR
• SGT Michael Hagerman ? Milton Freewater, OR
• CW4 David Larson ? Independence, OR
• CW3 Daniel McCarron ? Dallas, OR
• CW4 Joseph Mollahan ? McMinnville, OR
• SSG John Mueller ? Molalla, OR
• CPT Devin Wickenhagen ? Portland, OR
• CW4 Paul Zenchenko ? Coos Bay, OR

A/249 Aviation Company is made up of four detachments from four states including Oregon. The unit was mobilized in December 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A/249 soldiers flew more than 1000 missions in Iraq in C-23 Sherpas logging approximately 5207 flight hours and transporting more than 4 million pounds of cargo. A number of equipment modifications were identified to increase the survivability of the C-23 aircraft and enhance safety and situational awareness. Two of the key modifications included Ballistic Blankets which help protect the aircraft from small arms fire and aircraft survivability equipment.

This is the second Army Aviation Unit of the Year Award for the Oregon Army National Guard. The 1042nd Medical Company Air Ambulance received this award in 2002.