Local troops ready for deployment

Published 10:49 am Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Hundreds of communities in Minnesota are touched by the Minnesota National Guard deployments, and Austin and Albert Lea are no exception.

Eighteen soldiers from Austin, and even more from Albert Lea, are already seeing their buddies head to Kuwait for the Minnesota National Guard’s second-largest deployment since World War II. The mission, Operation New Dawn, is the final draw down of weapons, equipment and soldiers from Iraq.

Sunday, at Fort McCoy, Wis., roughly 2,300 of the 2,400 deploying soldiers were treated to a giant cookout, hosted by their friends, families and volunteers.

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“It went great,” said Maj. Paul Rickert, Public Affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard. “There were some concerns that weather was going to be problem; but fortunately, we had sunshine for the entire event.”

Rickert said about 5,500 family members came to show their support for all the soldiers departing, of which Rickert is one himself. He added the group of soldiers represents 530 communities throughout Minnesota.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Rickert said about the deployment. “I’m looking forward to being part of the draw down.”

Rickert added he sees it as a part of history, as he was in Iraq for his first deployment. Now he will see both sides of the war — beginning and end.

Nearly 100 soldiers are already packing for Kuwait, as they will be the prep group before the rest of the battalion arrives.