UNDATED (WREX) - Nearly 3,000 members of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are all back home with their families after a year in Afghanistan.
Many of those soldiers returned to the local area with welcome-home parties held in Dixon, Sycamore and Machesney Park.
Their primary mission was to train and mentor Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces.
"These Soldiers did a number of remarkable things while they were deployed and we are proud of everything they accomplished," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General for the Illinois National Guard. "The Illinois National Guard family extends its thanks and appreciation to these extraordinary Soldiers and to the entire 33rd on a job well done."
Below is a list of things accomplished by the unit in Afghanistan.
- Helped reduce the poppy crop production in Afghanistan: Discovered and later burned 11.2 tons of poppy seeds
- Assisted with 19 road projects
- Helped dig 135 wells
- Helped build 12 medical clinics
- Helped build 15 schools
- Helped repair 14 civic or cultural centers
- Provided 200 emergency tents for flood victims
- 2.7 million pounds of humanitarian assistance distributed
18 Soldiers from the unit died during the deployment:
- Sgt. Joshua W. Harris, 21, of Romeoville, died September 17 in Gerdia Seria, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Robbins.
- Staff Sgt. Jason A. Vazquez, 24, of Chicago, died September 17 in Gerdia Seria, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore.
- Sgt. Kevin D. Grieco, 35, of Bartlett, died Oct. 27 in Baghlan, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when a suicide bomber detonated explosives as they were preparing to enter a building. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore.
- Staff Sgt. Jason E. Burkholder, 27, of Champaign, died Feb. 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of Marion.
- 1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth, 26, of Oakland, died Feb. 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of Marion.
- Sgt. Schuyler B. Patch, 25, of Galva, died Feb. 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Kewanee.
- Sgt. Scott B. Stream, 39, of Mattoon, died Feb. 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Effingham.
- Sgt.. Simone A. Robinson, 21, of Dixmoor, died March 1 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her security post on Jan. 17 in Kabul, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 634th Brigade Support Battalion of the Illinois Army National Guard, Crestwood.
- Sgt. Christopher P. Abeyta, 23, of Midlothian, died March 15 a result of injuries sustained in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Abeyta was transported to Jalabad, Afghanistan, where he later died. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock.
- Sgt. Robert M. Weinger, 24, of Round Lake Beach, died March 15 a result of injuries sustained in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Weinger was transported to Jalabad, Afghanistan, where he later died. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock.
- Spc. Norman L. Cain III, 22, of Mt. Morris, died March 15 as the result of injuries sustained in Kot and he died at the scene of the incident in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock.
- Sgt. Lukasz D. Saczek, 23, of Lake in the Hills, died May 10 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, Woodstock.
- Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, of Carlyle, died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Marion.
- Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East Peoria, died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry, Aurora.
- 1st Lt. Derwin I. Williams, 41, of Glenwood, died July 6 in Konduz, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Troop B, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Dixon.
- Sgt. Chester W. Hosford, 35, of Ottawa, died July 6 in Konduz, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Troop B, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Dixon.
- Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24, of Galesburg, died July 7 in Shindad, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion.
- Sgt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, died July 29 in Herat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion.
