Indiana Guard Unit That Lost 6 in Afghanistan Returns to Indiana

Company was in Kandahar for nearly 11 months

An Indiana National Guard unit that lost six members of its company during a nearly yearlong deployment in Afghanistan has returned to Indiana.

Eighty-nine members of the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineer Company were greeted Wednesday by about 300 relatives and friends as the unit arrived at the Gary Army Aviation Support Facility.

Guard spokeswoman Col. Cathy Van Bree said six members of the unit were killed in action and a seventh was injured during the unit's deployment in Afghanistan.

Van Bree says the unit's return was "appropriately emotional." She says the guard is proud of the unit's service and happy that they're back in Indiana.

The company's mission involved patrolling roads and clearing away roadside bombs in Kandahar Province for 10 1/2 months.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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