By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – The 1132nd National Guard military police company returns to North Carolina today. This is the same company that lost five members, including Wallace police detective Emanuel Pickett.
Since the military police company deployed in September of last year, more than 20 of them were wounded and five were killed.
The North Carolina National Guard says that makes the 1132nd the hardest hit company since World War II.
National Guard Spokesperson Matt Handley says many people are ready see this company come home.
"You know some of them made the ultimate sacrifice, so it's just a good feeling to bring these guys back home to soil here in North Carolina."
Handley says there will be a special service Wednesday to recognize the soldiers who died while in Iraq, including Wallace police detective Emanuel Pickett.
During its deployment, the 1132nd recruited and trained Iraqi police.
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