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Contact: Major Matthew Handley
Date: July 10, 2008
Phone: (919) 664-6242

GREENVILLE HEADQUATERED NC ARMY NATIONAL GUARD 430th RETURNS HOME

GREENVILLE - With the roar of four engines from a NC Air National Guard C-130 Aircraft as it flew over the Pitt Greenville Airport on its approach for landing, screams of delight broke out from National Guard family members.

The plane was bringing the 13 Soldiers of the 430 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company on their final leg of their journey home from Kosovo.

1st Lt. Thomas Chiancone, commander of the 430th EOD, embraces two of his four daughters after the 4 Cheers from family members holding signs and shooting pictures cheered as the C-130 taxied to the ramp with an American Flag flying from a top hatch of the aircraft. After hugs kisses from families and handshakes from NC National Guard leadership, the soldiers relaxed with family as they prepared for the official welcome home from dignitaries, local leaders, employers and friends.

The welcome home ceremony, a tradition with in the NC National Guard signifies the official end of the unit's mission. NC Senator Kay Hagan, Secretary of Crime Control an Public Safety, Mr. Bryan Beatty, Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the Adjutant General of the NC National Guard, and the Commander of the 430th, 1st Lt. Thomas S. Chiancone all spoke, congratulating the men on their accomplishments, and the good work they had done on behalf of all Americans.

Near the end of the ceremony another NC National Guard tradition was carried out, when First Lt Chiancone returned to Maj. Gen. Ingram a NC Flag that had hung in the unit's Headquarters during the deployment. The flag was given to the unit upon their departure a year ago. The Flag will be flown over the state capital and then returned to unit's headquarters for display. This tradition has been carried out for every NC National Guard unit that has deployed since Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.

The 430th EOD's mission while based at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo was A returning Guardsman with the 430th EOD embraces his children at the Pitt Greenville Airport in Gre to render safe recovered unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices, conduct post-blast investigations at bombing scenes, destroy captured ammunition, and to conduct Mine Risk Education classes as part of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in order to raise mine awareness and reduce the number of children hurt or killed by ammunition in Kosovo.

While deployed, the 430th EOD responded to 125 reports of unexploded ordnance, six improvised explosive device callouts, assisted in three "cordon and search" missions, and conducted four post-blast investigations with no injuries or accidents.

The 430th EOD conducted 112 Mine Risk Education training classes for over 6900 local school children, providing Unexploded Ordnance training to local Fire Departments and the Kosovo Police Service, and established a Mine Risk Education page for a coalition produced magazine to educate children about the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance. The 430th EOD also destroyed over 2000 pieces of ammunition and over 30 weapons. The 430th contributed to continuing international safety by conducting unexploded ordnance training for 2412 US Soldiers and 812 NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) Soldiers and by establishing an EOD Soldier exchange with KFOR EOD units.

The Soldiers of the 430th were honored for their skill and bravery with a Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, and eight Army Achievement Medals.

As exemplified by the 430th EOD, the National Guard's traditions of excellence, bravery, and international cooperation continue to promote stability and security around the globe. Today the NC National Guard has about 500 Soldiers and Airmen deployed around the world out of a total of 12,000 Army and Air National Guardsmen serving.

There are about 5,000 NC National Guard on alert for possible deployment in 2009.

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