WEBVTT

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(crowd cheering and clapping)

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- Last week, we celebrated Fourth of July.

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Today, we celebrate it again

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with you returning home.

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- [Reporter] Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen

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from the 179th Infantry Regiment

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45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are retuning home

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from a six-month deployment from Ukraine.

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- To the families, I know that you won't remember much

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of what I'm saying, and that's fine,

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but I hope you remember this:

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I want to thank you for the sacrifices

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that you've made for these soldiers

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standing in front of you.

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They can't do what they need to do without your support,

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and we need them on a daily basis,

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so thank you for your support and sacrifices.

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- [Reporter] The guardsmen helped a multinational effort

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to establish a Ukrainian combat training center

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and to train the Ukrainian Army.

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- Your return to Europe has been a great success.

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I wish you congratulations on adding another very proud page

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to the great history of the 179 Infantry.

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- [Reporter] This is the first wave

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of soldiers returning from Ukraine

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who were replaced by a sister battalion,

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the 279th Infantry Regiment in the 45th.

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(excited squealing)

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- In Ukraine, it was cold.

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I was told really cold.

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Today it's 101 degrees.

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Welcome home.

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(laughter)

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- [Reporter] Reporting for the Oklahoma National Guard

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in Norman, Oklahoma,

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I'm Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Bruce.