Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Thomas W. Gottschalk, son of Theresa Gottschalk, Hays, is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, respectively.

The soldiers return to Fort Dix, N.J., for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units.

The sergeant served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia.

Gottschalk, a medical maintenance repair supervisor, is a member of the 424th Medical Logistics Battalion, Edgemont, Pa. He has served in the military for more than 25 years.

Gottschalk is a 1985 graduate of Hays High School, and received an associate degree in 1987 from the DeVry Institute of Technology, Kansas City, Mo.