JUNE 23, 2008, LANSING, MICH.-Friends and family will bid farewell to Michigan National Guard Soldiers from Wyoming, greater Grand Rapids and Sturgis as they depart for Fort Bliss, Texas, and then Iraq. The Soldiers are assigned to the 1463rd Transportation Company based in Wyoming.
The transportation company Soldiers will train for approximately 60 days at Fort Bliss before they deploy to Iraq where they will complete detainee security operations. For this mission the Soldiers will be responsible for the health and welfare of the detainees.
The deployment ceremony will begin promptly at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 23rd, at the Grand Valley Armory, 1200 44th St. SW, Wyoming, Mich., 49509.
Today, nearly 1,600 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 9,000 members remain, ready to respond to state emergencies.
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MEDIA ADVISORY:
Media is invited to attend. Family members will be available for interviews before or after the hour long ceremony. For more information, contact 1Lt. Corissa Barton at (517) 481-8137 or (517) 896-0859.