100 Oregon National Guard soldiers welcomed home after canceled Portland deployment, demobilization

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Military Department leaders greeted about 100 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers returning to the Portland International Airport Thursday evening after their months-long wait for deployment to Portland, which was canceled amid court challenges.

The soldiers arrived back home from demobilization at Fort Bliss, Texas, concluding their mission as part of Task Force Rose Shield, the governor's office told KTVZ News in a news release Friday that continues below:

“On behalf of all Oregonians, we thank you, we’re with you, and we’re glad you’re back,” Kotek said after boarding the plane and addressing the soldiers over the intercom shortly after it landed at PDX. “Oregon will always have your back, no matter the situation. I appreciate your commitment, courage and professionalism. Thank you, and welcome home.”

Gov. Kotek and the Oregon National Guard leadership group greeted each service member as they disembarked. The group boarded buses to Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley to collect their remaining personal items before heading home.

Before returning to Oregon, the soldiers spent several days at the Fort Bliss Mobilization and Deployment Division, completing medical exams, and required paperwork following their mobilization in September.

The 100 soldiers were part of a larger group of 200 Guard members deployed to Portland by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sept. 27. Their deployment coincided with small, mostly peaceful protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown Portland.

With the soldiers’ return, their Title 10 active duty orders have concluded, and they are now under the authority of Governor Kotek.