140 Minnesota National Guard troops welcomed home

More than 140 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard's 114th Transportation Company were welcomed home after about a year in Afghanistan.

The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports the soldiers actually returned home in September, but a formal ceremony was held Saturday in Chisholm.

Army Capt. Ryan Koester is the commander of the 114th. He said the soldiers should be proud of what they've done.

He says that the company, known as "The Wolfpack," moved 900 pieces of equipment over more than 85,000 miles in the country's rugged terrain.

Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan also thanked the soldiers for their service.

The unit also paid tribute to Spc. George Cauley, who died from wounds received in an IED attack during the unit's last deployment in 2009.

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