SC Army National Guardsmen home for the holidays

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — More than 800 soldiers from South Carolina are returning home for Christmas after a year-long deployment to Kuwait.

The Greenville News reported (http://grnol.co/W0HpPd ) on Sunday that the South Carolina Army National Guard’s 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry, began returning Saturday. All of the soldiers are being flown in into Columbia and are then bused to their respective armories for homecoming ceremonies with their families.

The 800-member unit mobilized in January after training at Camp Shelby, Miss., and then deployed to Kuwait in April. During their time overseas, the guardsmen provided administration, logistical, legal, training, security, communications, medical and religious support for three military camps in northern Kuwait.

The South Carolina National Guard includes more than 11,000 soldiers and airmen who deploy worldwide as needed.