The first deployment of Arkansas National Guard troops to Afghanistan will begin in less than a week with teary goodbyes beside rumbling buses at the Jonesboro armory.
For the more than 200 soldiers about to deploy with the 1037th Engineer Company, 875th Engineer Battalion, however, these last few days in Arkansas are the hardest part of that pending deployment.
“It’s a lot of little things that guys have been putting off, putting off, putting off,” said Capt. Brad Smart, 1037th commander. “They have to shift their focus from themselves to think about what they need to do to ensure their families will be OK when they’re gone.”
And there is a lot of waiting. The 1037th remains on ...
Subscribers must LOG-IN to read this full story.
Access is free for print subscribers who register. Online-only subscriptions are available. Click here to register.
Stories can also be purchased from the archives for $1.95 per article. » Click here to search the Archives. If your search doesn't return any results, contact the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette library at (501) 378-3851.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 11/04/2009
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Login to comment
If you are already registered, click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.