Saturday Send-Off For Minn. Soldiers Leaving For Iraq
By Bruce Hagevik, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Saturday, 80 National Guard soldiers based in St. Cloud are leaving for special training and eventually for a 10-month deployment in Iraq.
They'll undergo two months of training at Fort Hood, Texas before being shipped overseas. They'll be flying CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopters and will help move troops, equipment and supplies.
"It's a tough time to leave right after Thanksgiving" said Senator Amy Klobuchar who will speak at the Saturday departure ceremony. "They're leaving their families, their jobs and their homes and we'll just be waiting for their return."
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Reports
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The soldiers are from Company B, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment.
