Seventy-five Soldiers from Headquarters Detachment, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, returned June 15, to Fort Sill from their nine-month deployment to the Middle East.

The unit uncased its organizational colors signifying their mission's completion and safe return home in a ceremony June 15. Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire, ADA School commandant and chief of ADA, welcomed the unit's Soldiers back.

"It's great to have you home. I know you did a great job on the mission. I got to spend a little bit of time with some of the leadership right before the holidays and see some of the handiwork that you've done," McIntire said.

"Yesterday was the Army's 241st birthday and we thought about all that history going on since our founding fathers in 1775. Your contributions are a part of that big institutional Army that has been carrying on for 241 years," said the general.

McIntire then expressed his pride in the unit and the outstanding job they did downrange.

Col. Kevin Ciocca, 31st ADA Brigade commander who deployed with his troops, said they worked through a tough mission but overcame all challenges.

"Every rotation makes it better than they found it, and we are confident that you advanced the mission and set the next unit up for success so they can advance it even further," he said.

Following the ceremony the Soldiers left with family or friends bound for an extended weekend off. Returning to duty, they went through a reverse processing phase before resuming their daily routines.

Like all the brigade's other families, Ciocca's wife, Becky, and daughter, Julia, cheered for the returning Soldiers before welcoming their husband and dad back after the ceremony.

"All Soldiers of the brigade headquarters returned safely from the deployment, but a different brigade is still deployed," said the colonel. "We look forward to their safe arrival."

Spc. Jonathan Kroona was welcomed home by his wife, Chelsea; 6-year-old daughter, Madison; and 1-year-old son, Landon. Kroona was deployed when Landon was 2 months old.

"Seeing him grow on FaceTime (a Mac computer app) was helpful, of course I would rather have been there in person," said Kroona.

His kids and wife Chelsea were over-joyed to have him back home.

"I am super excited he's back. I've been a student full-time and taking care of the kids by myself. I want him to have some vacation time, but I also want him to take over with the kids," said Chelsea. "I have a major honey-do list waiting at home."