Kansas National Guard unit returning from Kuwait

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Members of a Kansas National Guard aviation unit that flies Black Hawk helicopters are coming home from a yearlong deployment to Kuwait.

A welcoming ceremony is scheduled Saturday at Washburn University in Topeka for about 112 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment. The rest of the unit's approximately 250 soldiers will return later.

Since arriving in Kuwait last August, the battalion conducted air movement and air assault operations to support the winding down of the war in Iraq.

The unit is headquartered in Topeka, with companies based in Topeka and Salina and in Austin, Texas.