Associated Press - May 18, 2009 6:55 AM ET

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A New York Army National Guard unit with contingents based on Long Island and in suburban Albany returned from Iraq this past weekend.

More than 160 members of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion arrived at New Jersey's Maguire Air Force Base yesterday. They're now at nearby Fort Dix to begin out-processing from active duty before returning home.

The battalion is headquartered near Long Island's Islip MacArthur Airport at the National Guard's Ronkonkoma Army Aviation Support Facility. The unit also has a flight company near Albany's in Latham, and some members are from the Rochester area.

The soldiers are expected to be back home late next week.

The unit conducted aviation operations throughout central and southern Iraq to support coalition and Iraqi forces movements of troops and supplies.

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