Local National Guard troops gathered at the Libby armory Sunday where they assembled for a group photo and spent some time with their families before boarding a bus to begin the journey to Iraq. Their unit will be deployed in Baghdad for up to 400 days.
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Local Guard unit deploys to Iraq
by Kootenai Valley Record
January 8, 2009
Local members of the Montana National Guard’s 639th Combat Service Support Co. gathered with family and friends Sunday morning at the Libby armory for a going-away ceremony before boarding the bus that would take them on the first leg of their journey to Iraq.
Made up primarily of soldiers from the Libby, Kalispell and Havre areas, the unit is headed overseas for a deployment of up to 400 days. For most of the unit, this will be the second tour of duty in Iraq. The unit was previously deployed to Iraq from December 2003 to March 2005.
"This is a really great group of guys and girls," said Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Walters. "We shouldn’t have any problems when we go over there."
Walters said the unit has been preparing for deployment since last December.
"Everybody knows we’re going to Baghdad," he said. "Hopefully, none of us are going off-Baghdad; we won’t be going outside the wire."
Libby Mayor Doug Roll wished the unit the best of luck and congratulated the soldiers for the work that they do.
"Come back safe and again, be careful," Roll said.
Lincoln County Commissioner Tony Berget said he’s proud of the members of the unit, calling them "a good representation of our city, our state, our area."
He urged the troops to keep in touch with friends and family back home and to let people know what they can send them to help out while the unit is in Iraq.
"Just keep your heads down, and don’t be volunteering for any dangerous missions," Berget said.
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Editor’s Note: See the January 6, 2009 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, now on Tuesday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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