The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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August 20, 2008

Guard leaves Enid for eventual Iraq deployment

By Robert Barron Staff Writer

Amid tears and hugs Wednesday, members of Okla-homa National Guard’s 45th Fires Brigade left for training before deployment to Iraq.

The bus carrying the 54 soldiers from the Enid area was escorted by AMVETS, American Veterans Motorcycle Club and many other motorcyclists and law enforcement vehicles in a convoy to Interstate 35.

Former soldiers stood on the curb and saluted as the bus passed through Enid. Crowds waving flags and signs showing support lined the route. AMVETS were to escort the soldiers to Okla-homa City, where another group would join and continue to the Texas state line.

The soldiers will spend 60 to 90 days at Fort Hood, Texas, training for convoy security missions they will conduct in Iraq, defending supply lines in and out of the country. They will be deployed for a year.

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

The 45th Fires Brigade is headquartered in Enid. About 800 soldiers from throughout the state will deploy with the unit.

All around Enid’s armory Wednesday were sad goodbyes, as members of the 45th presented roses to their loved ones, and husbands and wives held each other as long as possible before the soldiers boarded the bus taking them to Texas.

But while the goodbyes were said, there was another emotion present throughout — pride. Soldiers were proud to represent their country, and families showed the pride they felt in their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who are serving.

Vicki Hues was there to see off her son, Casey. It is his first deployment since joining the National Guard.

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

In the crowd a soldier gave his wife a rose, and she began to cry. He held a little girl who playfully stole his cap.

A crowd of more than 100 applauded at the armory as the soldiers got on the bus, one by one, as their names were called.

Jim Booth, a former member of the 45th Field Artillery, which now is the 45th Fires Brigade, said he was present 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 he has noticed a difference in many people’s attitudes now than when 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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