National Guard unit deployed to Iraq
See the slideshow that’s won the hearts of many including radio talk show host Mark Davis and WBAP : View slideshow of Deployment Ceremony
Approximately 400 members of the National Guard’s 2nd Battalion of the 149th Aviation Brigade left Sunday morning for Fort Sill, Oklahoma to complete their training before deploying to Iraq.
Headquartered in Grand Prairie, the 2nd Battalion, 149th will combine with units from Minnesota, Oklahoma and South Carolina to comprise the battalion. The battlion will be stationed in LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq until June 2009. The battalion’s mission is to fly air assault, VIP transportation, heavy lifting and general air support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The unit has a rich history in Grand Prairie with previous deployments:
- 1961 – Fort Polk, Louisiana - Cuban Missile Crisis
- 1990 – Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm
- 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom
- The unit helped with rescue operations during the 500-year flood in Missouri, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and support of the 25th Infantry Division during a non-combat evacuation training exercise.
A Departure Ceremony was held Saturday at Warrior Coliseum at South Grand Prairie High School where members, family and friends gathered for a day of fun, music and food along with a service to honor the soldiers.
Featured speaker of the ceremony, columnist and radio personality, Mark Davis spoke to the soldiers thanking them and their families for their sacrifices. He also reminded everyone of their responsibility to support our troops both at home and abroad.
On Sunday the battalion assembled at their facility and departed in buses for their trip to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Several chapters of the Patriot Guards provided a motorcycle escort to the convoy for the entire trip.
