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Editorial - October 2003 |
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Farewell and good luck to citizen soldiers |
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Published October 8, 2003 |
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The war on terrorism hit home this week. We’ve been hearing and reading about Iraq and American servicemen at risk for months but it really hits home when we see our friends and neighbors right here in Lincoln packing up and leaving home for a dangerous military assignment in the Middle East. More than 100 members of C-Battery, 1-113th Field Artillery unit of the N.C. Army National Guard in Lincolnton were deployed Monday. The unit is one part of the N.C. Guard’s 30th Heavy Separate Brigade, which is being mobilized in its entirety. The call up of the 4,800 soldiers, 3,500 of which are based in North Carolina, marks the largest mobilization of North Carolina National Guard soldiers since World War II. The remaining soldiers are from West Virginia, Illinois and New York. The guard unit will first head to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville and go through different operations to get an idea of what jobs they’ll be performing. Sometime near the first of the year, they’ll head to Fort Polk in Louisiana for more training. After that they head overseas for an as yet undisclosed assignment. Their deployment will last 18 months. These are our citizen soldiers — friends and neighbors who hold regular jobs and spend most of their time as civilians. It’s very difficult to see them leave their families for such a long period of time and for such hazardous duty. But when you talk to them you don’t sense disappointment and sorrow that their lives have been dramatically interrupted. PFC Mario Maddox, 21, said he knew the day would come when he’d be deployed, and he’s ready. “I feel fine about it,” Maddox said. “I raised my right hand, and I’ll raise it again.” That’s the attitude and willingness that we remember and still applaud during patriotic observances with our local veterans. To the departing guard members we not only say thanks for serving our country in time of need, but take care. We want you back safe and sound, and we will stand by your families with all the moral support we can muster until you return.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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