Nearly 4,000 Pa. National Guard troops may go to Iraq

[bronxiteforever]

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Nearly 4,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members are being notified that they could be sent to Iraq within a year. The deployment, if fulfilled, would be the state Guard's largest to Iraq.

The soldiers are members of the 28th Division's 56th Stryker Brigade, headquartered in Philadelphia but spread across roughly 30 armories across the state.

"These soldiers have received equipment and training that some regular Army units haven't received, and I think it just shows that the National Guard is no longer a strategic reserve -- it's an operational force," Angell said. "I think this will be historic."

More here-


http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-guardiraq1018-cnap,0,4439313.story?coll=all_tab01_layout

[Yael]

1. ...

:grr:

You have NO idea how much this pisses me off.

[bronxiteforever]

2. I can only agree with your sentiment and hope they won't go

[Yael]

3. Not about that

They have to go where they are assigned. Such is the beauty of a volunteer military and I thank God for each and every one of them.

I am just so sick of seeing their talents lost on a war for oil that I could spit nails.

God bless our troops -- bring them HOME

[bronxiteforever]

4. True, the city of Harrisburg has photos of the soldiers lost in this war

The photos are imprinted banners on street light posts-it is an everyday reminder of what has been lost in this war - sad, sad

[bronxiteforever]

5. Pa. Guard expecting major call-largest overseas since Korea

By Tom Infield and Edward Colimore

Inquirer Staff Writers
Nearly 4,000 Pennsylvania National Guard troops are likely headed to Iraq late next year, including members of an infantry company that had six men killed there in 2005.

Soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Northeast Philadelphia and scattered among 39 armories across the state, were individually notified by a phone chain yesterday and on Wednesday to expect an alert order.

If the Pentagon goes ahead with the deployment, this would be the greatest number of Pennsylvania national guardsmen to serve in Iraq at any one time. It would also be the largest state Guard contingent to serve overseas since the Korean War.

update from today's philly paper-link below

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/iraq/20071019_Pa__Guard_expecting_major_call_It_could_involve_4_000_troops__the_most_sent_overseas_since_Korea_.html