Army Sgt. Michael Anthony Vess Sr. has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas for a year in Djibouti, East Africa.

Vess was selected to complete a 400-day individual mobilized deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom along the Horn of Africa on Aug. 1, 2017.

During his time overseas, he worked side-by-side with senior enlisted and commissioned service members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.

As a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Vess is assigned to the 2/104th Cavalry, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division.

He is a Joint Operations Center Watch Supervisor and Joint Display Network Controller based out of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

Vess and his wife, Nicole E. Barela-Vess, have a 20-month-old son, Michael A. Vess Jr.

He graduated in 2008 from William Allen High School, Allentown.

As a result of his exceptional commitment to selfless service and mission success, Vess received a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a Coin from the Sgt. Major of the Army, Daniel Dailey.