Ryan Dustin hugs his sister, Brinley Dustin, both of Spanish Fork, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Chuck Wing
Isaac Hale
By Chuck Wing, Isaac Hale

Hugs, smiles and tears were aplenty Saturday morning as Roland R. Wright Air Base as 5o soldiers from the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade were reunited with their families and loved ones Saturday after returning from a deployment to Africa.

In a statement released last week, Col. Woodrow Miner said “I am proud to have served alongside the soldiers of the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade who continued the Utah National Guard’s legacy of outstanding military service during our deployment in Djibouti as the CJTF-HOA staff.”

According to the same press release, “The soldiers of the 204th MEB have completed a successful nine-month deployment to Djibouti and East Africa as the staff of the Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa where they supported the U.S. and allied forces and Department of State Embassies.”

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Deseret News photojournalist Isaac Hale captured the joy of Saturday’s event.

Virginia Hoffman, right, of Salt Lake City, holds a sign for her son, Cpt. Henry Palma, as she’s joined by other family members during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Soldiers exit the plane during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Clark Tischner, of Logan, holds an American flag before the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Virginia Hoffman, of Salt Lake City, holds a sign for her son, Cpt. Henry Palma, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Branson Massey, 10, of Vernal, makes a sign for his father before the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Cpt. Henry Palma, of Riverton, hugs his son, Lucca Palma, 5, as he holds a sign beside his sister, Eva Palma, 2, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
First sergeant Justin Brice greets his son, Enzio Brice, 10, and wife, Stephanie Brice, all of Herriman, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Lee Nitchman hugs his daughter, Anna Nitchman, 17, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Cpt. Henry Palma, of Riverton, hugs his wife, Hannah Palma, while he holds his daughter, Eva Palma, 2, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Katie Thomas, 6, and her brother, James Thomas, 4, run to greet their uncle, John Thomas, all of Genola, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Laurynn Kondik hugs her boyfriend, Jacob Sorenson, both of South Jordan, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Lee Nitchman kisses his wife, Lisa Nitchman, both of Highland, during the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A sign rests on a chair before the return of the Utah Army National Guard’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Africa to the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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