Local News - October 2003

Ceremony honors mobilized guard unit

Published October 6, 2003

By Staff reports

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The Lincolnton unit of the N.C. Army National Guard mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom held a farewell ceremony this morning.

Hundreds of family members and friends were expected to gather at the Citizens Center to honor the soldiers of the C-Battery, 1-113th Field Artillery unit.

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.

Lincolnton’s mobilization ceremony is one of 22 held since Sept. 26. Another ceremony for the Service Battery, 1-113th, is set for 3 p.m. today at the High Point Theatre.

The Guard’s Battery A 1-113th FA in Belmont were honored Sunday morning. Approximately 900 people turned out for the ceremony.

Lincolnton’s unit will leave for Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville immediately after the ceremony. Around the first of the year, they’ll head to Ft. Polk, Lousiana, for validation training. When that’s done, the unit will go overseas.

They’ll find out what they’ll be doing after linking up with the 1st Division, Lt. Christopher Barr said last week.

For coverage of the ceremony, read Wednesday’s Lincoln Times-News.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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