Nevada Guardsmen return from Iraq

Jace Radke

Friday, May 21, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

About 50 Southern Nevada National Guard soldiers are set to return home to Las Vegas on Wednesday after a year in Iraq.

The 777th Engineer Utilities Team flew to Fort Lewis, Wash., Wednesday night after being deployed in a year ago in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The unit helped with construction projects in and around Baghdad, including sites at the Baghdad International Airport. The members of the 777th spent part of their tour living in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces and were later stationed at Camp Anaconda, about four miles north of Baghdad.

Cynthia Dunn, mother of Spc. Nicholas Petry, a member of the 777th, said that she can't wait to see her son and plans to fly to Seattle to see him this weekend.

"It's a huge relief, but I just need to be able to hug him to know he's really back," Dunn said. "I'm so proud of them all."

Dunn, who's fiancee works for the Seattle Mariners, said that on Sunday the Mariners are inviting the members of the 777th to Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers at Safeco Field.

Currently about 100 soldiers with the Northern Nevada-based 321st Signal Co. are deployed to Kuwait. About 150 Henderson-based soldiers with the 1864th Transportation Co. could be deployed in the coming months after being notified earlier this year to prepare for possible mobilization.

The soldiers with the 1864th haul ammunition and dry cargo on tractor-trailers, and could be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom or Noble Eagle.

Where they would go and what their mission might be is not yet known, National Guard officials said.