Official can’t say exactly where or when, but battalion will head overseas later this year

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

It’s official. Burns National Guard Soldiers in the 1st Detachment Delta Company 141st Brigade Support Battalion will deploy sometime this spring to eventually serve overseas.

The Harney County soldiers are part of the 41st Infantry Brigade, and their  squadron headquarters are located in Bend.

1st  Detachment Delta Company Readiness NCO Sean Wilson said that while the Guard cannot say how many soldiers will deploy or specifically where they are going, he did say that in April, the unit will get pre-mobilization training at Camp Roberts in California. In May and June, soldiers will conduct mission specific training at Fort Stewart in Georgia before they are sent overseas.

Wilson will remain at the Burns Armory, which will continue to operate. More than 700 Guard soldiers statewide will stay behind in case of a state emergency. In addition to the 700 stay back personnel, there will be more than 4,000 other Army, Air Guard and State Defense Force members who will be available for any potential state emergency. Brig. Gen. Charles Yriarte, who is the son of Louis and Doris Yriarte of Harney County, will command the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team rear detachment.

One of the National Guard’s main priorities is making sure family members of soldiers have the support they need during the deployment. Each unit has a family coordinator as well as 24-hour, seven-day a week Web site support.

County Veteran Service Coordinator Guy McKay is working with Wilson to organize a community send off for the Burns National Guard soldiers on March 21.  The event will take place at the armory and will include a free barbecue. Local officials will be present, and McKay would like to see as many community members as possible show up for the event. “The more the better,” he said.

The last time a Burns National Guard unit was activated was in March 2003, when soldiers were deployed to Fort Lewis to back fill other deploying units.

The current Burns National Guard unit was officially started in June 2006.

Send-off party

WHAT: A community celebration and barbecue at the Burns Armory to send off Burns National Guard soldiers who will deploy overseas later this year. Local officials will speak and the Boy Scouts will present the flag.

INFORMATION: Volunteers to help with the set up and barbecue are needed. Call Veteran Service Officer Guy McKay at 573-6024.