Army Reserve Sgt. James C. Purcell

Army Reserve Sgt. James C. Purcell has returned to the U.S. after being deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The servicemember is regularly assigned to the 592^nd Ordnance Battalion based in Billings, Mont.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

The reserve unit soldiers first arrived at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., for demobilization and debriefing procedures prior to returning to Billings. The unit soldiers served at Camp Adder in Iraq during their tour of duty.

Purcell is an ammunition sergeant with three years of military service.

He is the son of Kevin S. Purcell of Nolan Road, Ballston Lake, N.Y., and Jan A. Purcell of Cabot, Ark.

His wife, Margaret, is the daughter of John and Toni Sikora of Walnut Drive, Pawling, N.Y.

The sergeant is a 1998 graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, Burnt Hills, N.Y.