After 10-month deployment, 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division returns home
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — More than 550 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are returning home this week after a 10-month deployment in Kuwait. The soldiers from the 34th Infantry Division "Red Bulls" departed in February.
"I missed my partner," said Michelle Brown, a Plymouth mom of three. "There were a lot of times I didn't have a lot of adult interaction in the summer. If I wasn't at work, I was taking care of the kids."
Her husband, Maj. Jim Brown, was on his first deployment.
"I'm so happy for the kids to have their father home."
Officially, the deployed soldiers' mission in the Middle East was to train and support regional partners. The "War on Terror" might be over, but they were still in a rough neighborhood — and that was never more apparent than when Iran twice launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. The U.S., Israel and other allies shot down almost all of them.
The 34th Infantry Division has deployed to Kuwait before, including in 2018-2019 in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
Minnesota National Guard soldiers were also deployed to Iraq from 2009 to 2010, leading the multi-national Division-South in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
