Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Governor Brad Little welcomes home Idaho Army National Guard unit


More than 30 soldiers were deployed in April of 2018, first to Fort Hood and then to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. (Idaho National Guard){p}{/p}
More than 30 soldiers were deployed in April of 2018, first to Fort Hood and then to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. (Idaho National Guard)

Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

Idaho Governor Brad Little welcomed back a unit of Idaho National Guardsmen, who recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan, Saturday in Sun Valley.

More than 30 soldiers were deployed in April of 2018, first to Fort Hood and then to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Soldiers began returning individually in February. Saturday's ceremony marked the first time the unit had been all together since leaving Afghanistan.

“I am extremely proud of the professional service each member of this unit provides to our state and nation and very grateful that they all returned safely home to their loved ones,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander, Idaho National Guard. “This service requires many sacrifices, not only from the deploying Guardsmen, but even more so, from their families who carry on while they are gone. We are committed to providing our Guardsmen and families with all the possible care and support as they integrate back into their lifestyles here in Idaho.”

This unit, known as the UH-60 Black Hawk unit, provided aeromedical evacuation support for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in the Kandahar and Helmand providences.

Crews collectively flew approximately 100 missions and more than 1,000 hours. The soldiers worked 24-hour shifts and had 15 minutes to be in the air to respond to calls from up to 40 miles away.

“It’s an instant adrenaline rush,” said flight paramedic Staff Sgt. David Egersdorf. “There’s nothing I can compare saving someone’s life to, whether it’s an American, an Afghanistani or a foreign service member, it’s fulfilling.”

The UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters are equipped with defibrillators, medical fluids, oxygen tanks, medications and other advanced combat, life-saving tools. Flight crews consist of two pilots, a crew chief and flight paramedic.

This deployment marks the eighth time in the past decade an Idaho Army National Guard aviation unit deployed.

Loading ...