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More than 2,000 Minnesota National Guard members could become the longest-serving unit in the Iraq War, according to its commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division had been scheduled to return to Minnesota in March but may have its term extended until August. That would mark 22 months in Iraq, the longest period any unit has served in Iraq during the war. As of now, the unit’s deployment has only officially been extended “for an unspecified amount of time.”
About 2,600 soldiers serve in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. The unit was mobilized in September of 2005. It has been deployed in all parts of Iraq and saw heavy action in Anbar Province. Seven members of the team — Sgt. Brent W. Koch, Sgt. Kyle R. Miller, Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Hanson, Sgt. Corey Rystad, Sgt. Bryan McDonough, Sgt. Nocholas D. Turcotte and Sgt. James M. Wosika — have been killed in action during the war in Iraq.
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4 Comments »
Comment posted May 8, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Boots on the ground! Jeff,
You have posted incorrect information on the time in Iraq that the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Minnesota National Guard has served. The unit arrived Kuwait in March 2006 and was credited by the US Army once 51% of the unit reached Kuwait for being “boots on the ground” (the time their one year tour started). As of today the unit has been in Iraq for 16 months since their mobilization in September 2005 (trained at Camp Shelby, MS, September 2005 to March 2006). Regardless, once they return in August 2007 they will have served longer then any National Guard unit. By all accounts they have performed in an outstanding manner and all Minnesota can be proud of the service and the sacrafice they and their families have made.
Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel
US Army (Retired)
Comment posted May 8, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
But how long… How long have they been away from their families? Everyone should include the training when they talk about these people. They are the only ones who have ever been asked to sacrifice anything in this failed war, and ignoring anytime they have given for this country is not giving them the respect they deserve.
Comment posted May 8, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Boots on the ground! Jeff,
You have posted incorrect information on the time in Iraq that the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Minnesota National Guard has served. The unit arrived Kuwait in March 2006 and was credited by the US Army once 51% of the unit reached Kuwait for being “boots on the ground” (the time their one year tour started). As of today the unit has been in Iraq for 16 months since their mobilization in September 2005 (trained at Camp Shelby, MS, September 2005 to March 2006). Regardless, once they return in August 2007 they will have served longer then any National Guard unit. By all accounts they have performed in an outstanding manner and all Minnesota can be proud of the service and the sacrafice they and their families have made.
Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel
US Army (Retired)
Comment posted May 8, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
But how long… How long have they been away from their families? Everyone should include the training when they talk about these people. They are the only ones who have ever been asked to sacrifice anything in this failed war, and ignoring anytime they have given for this country is not giving them the respect they deserve.
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