The 1670th Transportation Company of the Alabama National Guard will return to its home base Saturday from Fort Benning Ga.

Lt. Col. Robert Horton, public affairs officer for the Alabama National Guard, said the 1670th was activated on Feb. 11 and has remained on active duty at Fort Benning where they prepared for deployment overseas.

Horton said the 1670th Transportation Company was involved in the pre-deployment process, however, with the ending of combat operations, the 1670th will not be deployed overseas and will return to Brantley by bus on Saturday. The time is to be announced.

The 1670th Transportation Company, with a detachment in Troy, has 140 members, with 40 of those based in Troy.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said the news that the National Guardsmen will return Saturday took him by surprise.

"It's short notice," Lunsford said. "But I am extremely pleased that the world situation changed as it did and they were not deployed into combat. I admire their spirit and their willingness to go if necessary."

Lunsford said he and the city council will want to recognize the company's service on active duty during the War with Iraq.

"We'll discuss just when and how we'll do this at the next council meeting," he said. "We know the community will want to join us in welcoming them home and expressing our gratitude for their service."