Utah task force is returning from a year in Iraq

About 45 Utahns, and soldiers from several other states, with the 321st Engineer Battalion will be coming home today after spending the past year in Iraq as part of Task Force Pathfinder.

The unit's mission was to secure routes in Anbar province, clearing 104,000 kilometers of road and detonating or disposing of 825 improvised explosive devices, according to an Army press release. One result of that mission was a drop in the level of violence that "wracked" that province for a year, Col. Michael Hoxie said.

During the deployment, the Task Force members lost six soldiers (none were from Utah), while many were injured, including 13 Utah soldiers who have since received Purple Heart awards for their wounds. Members of the 321st will be arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m. at Hill Air Force Base.