Southern California guard troops return home via March Published Aug. 14, 2009 By Megan Just 452 AMW/PA MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- ONE LAST DUTY: Soldiers from the California National Guard's 1st Battalion, 185th Armored Regiment unload rucksacks from the chartered aircraft that transported their unit to March ARB Tuesday, August 11. The Soldiers were part of the second wave of more than 800 Soldiers from the California National Guard returning from a yearlong deployment in Iraq. Over 300 of the Soldiers were from the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego areas and returned via two flights on August 6 and the third flight on August 11. During their deployment, the Soldiers conducted more than 2,000 combat logistics patrols and provided more than 1.7 million miles of convoy security in Iraq. The Battalion came in contact with small arms fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on several occasions, but did not sustain any life-threatening injuries. The Soldiers were augmenting the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, based in Seattle. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Megan Just)