Petaluma arrival completes Afghanistan mission

<p>A hero’s welcome greeted the third and final group from the California National Guard’s 235th Engineer Company to return home from Afghanistan over the past 10 days.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Escorted by a phalanx of motorcycles, two helicopters, police and emergency vehicles, the 38 soldiers arrived by bus at the Petaluma armory from the San Francisco airport. They were greeted by a couple hundred well-wishers lining the street, waving flags and holding signs thanking them for their service.</p><p>“It was nice seeing the community get behind the soldiers, showing support for what we do,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Ingram, 34, of Redding, who like his fellow Army National Guardsmen had been in Afghanistan since early February.</p><p>That brings to 105 the number of soldiers from the Petaluma-based company that have returned since Nov. 15, in time for Thanksgiving. Some were wounded, but there were no fatalities.</p><p>Almost all of the National Guardsmen were involved in clearing enemy explosives planted on roads in Paktika province, near Pakistan.</p><p>The men were awarded 39 Purple Heart Medals, a slightly lower number than previously reported because the prior number included members of another platoon temporarily attached to the 235th.</p><p>They also were awarded 23 Bronze Stars.</p>