On Friday morning, approximately 103 soldiers from the Second Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade were welcomed home with open arms by their families as their tour of duty ended three months earlier than planned.

Sergeant First Class Pete Mayes says they successfully completed six months of a nine-month tour of duty – dubbed a “Rendezvous with Destiny” – in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Welcome home, and congratulations on a job extremely well done,” said Major General James McConville, 101st Airborne Division Commander, to much applause from the families. “217 Cav occupies a special place in my heart, because I had the privilege of serving in a squadron about 13 years ago. And 217 Cav’s always been famous for being there when soldiers on the ground needed them.”

They were based out of Operating Base Fenty and their role was to help the Afghan National Army conduct reconnaissance support operations, said Mayes, who added that they flew more than 7,000 missions, moved roughly 70,000 people and completed more than 600 Medevac missions just in their first three months of deployment.

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