Published: August 21, 2008 02:55 pm            

National Guard unit heads for Iraq

Enid — (AP) — Members of a National Guard unit received hugs from family and friends, salutes from former soldiers and well wishes from flag-waving crowds as they departed for an extended tour of duty in Iraq.

More than 100 people were on hand Wednesday for a farewell ceremony for 54 soldiers with the 45th Fires Brigade. They will spend 60 to 90 days at Fort Hood, Texas, training for convoy security missions before going overseas.

Vicki Hues was there to see off her son, Casey, who is deploying for the first time since joining the National Guard.

“I’m very proud of him for going, but I’ll miss him while he’s gone,” she said.

The Enid-based brigade will be among 800 soldiers from throughout the state who will be defending supply lines in and out of Iraq for a year. Gov. Brad Henry spoke at a larger farewell ceremony that was held in Oklahoma City.

“We’re always here when a group leaves or returns to show them the people of Enid and fellow veterans care,” Sgt. Ted Danks, president of the Enid chapter of American Veterans Motorcycle Club. “We’re proud of them.”

AMVETS was charged with escorting the soldiers to Oklahoma City, where another group would join and continue to the Texas state line.

Jim Booth, a former member of the 45th Field Artillery, which now is the 45th Fires Brigade, said he was there to show support for the unit.

Booth transferred to Enid in 1968 and stayed until 1972. While he was a member of the unit, it was deployed to help quell riots at Oklahoma State Prison in McAlester and twice was to be deployed to Vietnam but did not go.

“I’m very proud of those guys. It makes me so proud to have those guys going over to protect us,” Booth said. “If any of them want to stay here, I’ll go in their place.

Booth said many people’s attitudes have changed since he was a soldier in the Vietnam era.

“The American spirit has grown, and we’re really proud of our soldiers,” he said.

        

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