LAFAYETTE, La. – Hundreds of Louisiana Army National Guard soldiers were honored with the Louisiana War Cross on June 7 during a ceremony at the Cajundome. The awards were presented to approximately 700 members of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the “Tiger Brigade,” following a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event.

Deployments and Operations

The decorated soldiers recently returned from deployments to Kosovo and the Horn of Africa, where they conducted peacekeeping, base defense and regional stability operations. During the deployments, the brigade also supported Operation Joint Guardian, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai Peninsula.

Former brigade commander Col. Jonathan Lloyd thanked the soldiers and their families for their sacrifices throughout the deployment cycle. “Thank you to our families for your continued support of our Soldiers. You are the anchors, and there are no successes that we could claim without your support,” Lloyd said.

Awards and Recognition

The Louisiana War Cross is reserved for National Guard members who serve honorably for at least 90 days in federal service during a national emergency, a presidential call-up or a declaration of war. Maj. Gen. Michael M. Greer, the assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, praised the troops for achieving critical strategic objectives during a complex, multi-theater mission.

Greer also urged returning soldiers to utilize available transition resources. “If you find this reintegration challenging, hear me clearly. You are not alone,” Greer said. “Take the information that you received this weekend and find your coping strategy. If you’re carrying a heavy rock right now, put it down and ask for assistance. The Yellow Ribbon team stands ready to support you whenever you need them.”

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.