WEBVTT

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- [Christopher] The Oklahoma National Guard has units

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deployed all over the world.

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Today, two of those units deployed in different parts

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of Europe returned home.

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More than 130 Oklahoma guardsmen hugged their family

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and friends for the first time this year.

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In a ceremony at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center.

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- First, what a happy day.

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And I know this is a happy day for all of us here

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because I've been on that side, and I've been on that side.

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And I just know the euphoric feeling about having our

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soldiers home from out of harm's way, and I know

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it's a happy day.

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- [Christopher] This is a second wave of soldiers returning

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home from Ukraine for the members of the 179th Infantry

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Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade, Combat Team.

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They were assigned to a multinational effort to establish

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a Ukrainian combat training center, and to train

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the Ukrainian army.

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- All of you jumped on this deployment with short notice.

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Some of you are combat vets, most have families,

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all have civilian jobs, or you took at least

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a year off college.

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You stepped up when our nation called,

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and you made a difference.

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- [Christopher] This marks the end of a one-year deployment

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to Kosovo for members of the 45th Brigade, Special Troops

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Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

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They were supporting Kosovo forces, a NATO peace-keeping

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mission to establish a secure environment in Kosovo.

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- But it is in keeping with being from Oklahoma,

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and bearing this patch, the patch of the Thunderbird.

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Because America knows it can depend on the 45th.

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- [Christopher] Reporting for the Oklahoma National Guard

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in Norman, Oklahoma, I'm Army Staff Sergeant

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Christopher Bruce.