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Another group of Alabama guardsmen are headed overseas, for the second time since the War On Terror began. The 128th Medical Ambulance Company from Ashland had their deployment ceremony this Wednesday afternoon.
"Thank you for what you've done. Thank you for what you're about to do." That was the message from Alabama's Commander and Chief Governor Bob Riley as he spoke to the 100 or so soldiers in the Ashland unit.
Riley has spoken at hundreds of these ceremonies during his tenure. But he says this one hits really close to home. Because, Ashland is his home. "A couple of these young people graduated with my kids. I've known em since they were born," he says.
This isn't the first rodeo for the unit. They spent a year in Iraq back in 2004 and 2005. The veterans say they're not expecting too many surprises. "Well last time it was fear of the unknown. This time we know what we're headed for," says Sgt. David Westbrooks.
And the green soldiers, like Ryan Shirley, say they'll stick to what they've been taught in training. "Do the best medical care that we can. And you know, serve our troops, our other troops as best as we can too," he says.
The soldiers have a pretty good idea of what they'll experience once they leave U.S. soil. It's the loved ones left behind that don't know what to expect. "As parents and family and friends we can always be there for him and with him to protect him," says one parent.
Wayne Shirley and his wife are sending their 20 year old son Ryan off to war. And, just out of earshot of his son, he had one last message for him. "We love him, we're proud of him. He's grown up to be a fine young man. And that all of his family, his friends, everybody is praying for him and we know that God will bring him back to us."
The soldiers from the 128th will be leaving early Thursday morning for 30 days of extensive training in Washington state before they ship off to Iraq. Their tour of duly will last 12 months.
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