Yakima, Washington

[darrels joy]

BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
A military convoy of vehicles belonging to Bravo Company of the 181st Support Battalion rolls out of the Yakima Training Center on Friday morning, bound for Fort Lewis. Ruby Fesler of Zillah, foreground, and Virginia Wolverton of Zillah wave flags to show their support. Following training, the recently activated National Guard unit is expected to be sent to Iraq.

[darrels joy]

BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
After waving goodbye to her husband, Sgt. Jason Brittingham, Patty Brittingham is consoled by her mother-in-law, Charlene Gerhauser, as Bravo Company troops roll out of the training center Friday morning.

[darrels joy]

BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
John Wilkinson of Yakima waves an American flag from atop his delivery truck as the troops pull out of the training center.

[darrels joy]

BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
An estimated crowd of more than 100 people turned out Friday to show their support for the Bravo Company troops.

[darrels joy]

Families, Supporters Send Off Troops With Cheers and Tears
By ADRIANA JANOVICH
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
A military convoy of vehicles belonging to Bravo Company of the 181st Support Battalion rolls out of the Yakima Training Center on Friday morning, bound for Fort Lewis. Ruby Fesler of Zillah, foreground, and Virginia Wolverton of Zillah wave flags to show their support. Following training, the recently activated National Guard unit is expected to be sent to Iraq.

Waving American flags and carrying handmade signs proclaiming "God Bless America" and "United We Stand," supporters bid farewell to troops bound for Fort Lewis ? and eventually Iraq ? in near-freezing temperatures Friday morning.

More than 100 people lined the road leading from the Army's Yakima Training Center, where the 181st Support Battalion's Bravo Company, part of the Washington Army National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, is based. As soldiers passed by in convoys of about 10 vehicles, escorted by military police and winding toward Interstate 82, supporters gave thumbs-up signs, cheered and waved their flags.

One young man handed a red rose to a female soldier through the open window of a military truck.

Some ? like 60-year-old retired nurse Dianne Mason of Union Gap, whose nephew, Joseph Bixler of Yakima, is in the unit ? braved the cold for nearly four hours, starting at dawn.

Selah twins Colby and Allison Davis, 16, missed school to show support for the soldiers. Their dad, Larry Davis, a real estate appraiser, took time off work.

"You could see the appreciation on those soldiers' faces," he said.

And that, said Allison, "is definitely worth getting cold for. It makes me feel very proud to support them."

The Davises didn't know any of the soldiers. But that didn't matter.

"I want to let them know we love them and we want them to come back safe," Colby said. "They're in our prayers."

It took nearly three hours for the convoys to intermittently roll out of town. And the roadside rally was just one of the farewell activities this week.

On Thursday, nearly 200 family members gathered at the training center's gymnasium for a goodbye ceremony, which included an invocation and benediction from Chaplain Wayne Stiles, words from Selah Mayor Bob Jones, and a short speech from the commander of Company B of the 181st Support Battalion, 36-year-old Capt. John K. Hinkle of Federal Way, Wash.

"I'm only leaving half of my family behind," the husband, father and middle school teacher told his troops and their families. "The other half is coming with me."

To the families, Hinkle said, "Do not be scared. (Your loved ones) are part of the greatest army on the face of this earth."

To the soldiers, he said, "It's my privilege and honor to go to war, to go to battle, any day, any time, with you. I salute you."

His unit of 287 soldiers, part of a brigade of about 4,000 soldiers from around the state, mobilized Nov. 15 in the largest deployment of Washington service personnel since World War II.

Among the other units scheduled to report for active duty are the Army Reserve 737th Transportation Company and the 907th Engineer Detachment, both based in Yakima as part of the 70th Regional Readiness Command, and the 116th Support Center in Ellensburg, part of the 96th Brigade. Their mobilization date is Dec. 7.

The 81st Armor has been called up for emergencies, such as floods and fires, but hasn't been deployed since the brigade's inception in 1968. Its deployment, expected to last 18 months, includes training at Fort Lewis and 12 months of duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

About 130,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq, where conflict continues and the death toll rises. More than 400 Americans have been killed since the United States invaded Iraq on March 19.

"We value life. We value freedom. And that's why we're here," said 36-year-old Sgt. Jim Brooks of Ellensburg. "I think that we're as ready as we can be."

For Brooks, a social worker for the state's Child Protective Services and a Guardsman for nearly five years, the deployment will be the longest time he's been away from his family. He leaves his wife, Sandy, 43, five children ranging in age from 5 to 21, and two grandchildren. Sandy hopes to mail her husband tape-recorded messages from the children while he's abroad.

"I don't want my dad to leave because he'll be gone for a long time," said Brooks' middle child and only son, 11-year-old Laker. "I love him."

Thirteen-year-old Tanya Cruz also said she'll miss her dad, Sgt. Otto Cruz, 37, of Tieton.

"It makes me happy that he's serving the country. I'm proud of him." But, she said, "I want him to stay with me."

Tanya and members of her family ? her brother, Isaak, 7; her mother, Angela, 31; her grandmother, Maria Herrera, 70, of Wapato; and her great-grandparents, Marie and Richard McClusky, both 80, of Yakima ? gathered around her father for hugs and handshakes during Thursday's ceremony. With tears in his eyes, Richard, a World War II veteran, wished his grandson-in-law well.

"You don't really want your grandkid to go through what you went through," he said. "I hope that he comes home safely and the fiasco will end and that all countries can go on in peace."

In the meantime, said 42-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Richard White of Yakima, "the biggest thing, whether you disagree or agree with the war, is to support the soldiers."

"We're just doing our job," he said. "The most important thing for us is for people to walk up and say, 'Thank you.'"

[Keith_Hixson]

Is this the same group as the Ellensburg National Guard is attached?

Lots of write ups about Ellensburg's National Guard being called up in the local paper.

Keith

[darrels joy]

Should be. Where else whould they be stationed and trained

We were just happy with their farewell sendoff.

[darrels joy]

They are in Iraq now.

I know people of all ranks in this Battalion.

I haven't known so many people fighting in a war since Vietnam.

A Major is Peter's best friend's stepfather. They are so close that they came to San Francisco for the dedication of Peter's ship and brought his best friend along.

Many others went to school with my children. I watched them grow to strong, brave men and women.

Please remember that all these people enlisted in the National Guard. Some enlisted after serving in other branches of the military.

I am very proud to know so many that are willing to fight for our country.

For those with a long memory, friends in the unit that responds to chemical and biological attacks are still here training to respond to any attacks.

Joy

[39mto39g]

Just a little info, When saving a picture, save it as a JPEG file instead of a BMP, the JPEG load outmaticly, the BMP files have to be downloaded.
Like this, This is a JPEG file.

RON

[darrels joy]

Pictures redone.

Joy