SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — The Oregon National Guard celebrated the return of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) with a demobilization ceremony at the Salem Armory Auditorium on Sep. 6.
The brigade returned in July after a year-long deployment to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission.
Col. Peter Helzer, commander of the 41st IBCT, highlighted the significance of their mission, describing it as “the longest and most successful NATO mission in the history of the alliance.”
The deployment was part of KFOR’s 34th rotation, aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region since 1999.
Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General of Oregon, emphasized the importance of the mission.
“The 41st mission supporting Operation JOINT GUARDIAN directly supported our national interests and security, bringing value and pride to our state and our nation,” he said.
The brigade’s efforts were reportedly extensive, involving security forces, logisticians, medical professionals, intelligence analysts, and a command team stationed in locations such as Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Pristina, Kosovo; and Bondsteel, Kosovo.
They completed over 4,000 security patrols, 13,000 public engagements, and 5,000 volunteer hours in support of Kosovo communities, according to the Oregon Military Department.
Gronewold also expressed gratitude to the families of the 41st IBCT soldiers, acknowledging their sacrifices. “While your loved ones were deployed, you carried the weight of the home front with grace and courage,” he said. “Your sacrifices made their mission possible, and we recognize that their service is truly a family commitment.”
The 41st IBCT continues its long legacy of service, tracing its roots back to the 41st Infantry Division, which served in World War I and had the longest overseas service of any U.S. division during World War II in the Pacific.