Iraq calls more to duty

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Iraq calls more to duty
By MARK MOREY
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC



BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic

At 26, Brandt Gibbons has been to war twice already ? two more times than most men will ever experience the horrors and succcesses of combat.

But Gibbons, also a veteran of the Kosovo conflict, is heading back to Iraq a second time because it's a chance to continue the accomplishments he carried out the first time.

"You can see how you affect people and how you affect people who are in need of help," said Gibbons, a specialist with the 792nd Chemical Company of the Washington Army National Guard.

That might sound like a recruiter's sound bite, but pressed on whether that's truly his position, the graduate of Eisenhower High School reiterates that he believes what he says.

"I love to do my job. I get more joy out of helping people," Gibbons said, noting the good feeling that comes from helping an Iraqi citizen with something as simple as repairing a generator.

Commanders of this Yakima-based unit say Gibbons' morale and resolve are common as the 150 members prepare to begin training next month at Fort Lewis in advance of a year's deployment to Iraq.

The SunDome will host a public sendoff for the 792nd at 1 p.m. Sunday, and company commander Capt. Steven Merritt hopes to fill the building. Local politicians, including Congressman Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, and regional military officials are expected to speak.

Although part of the National Guard's 420th Chemical Battalion, the 792nd troops won't be assigned a chemical mission. Instead, they will be replacing military units responsible for securing and stabilizing Iraq against insurgents.

In fact, roughly a third of the company consists of soldiers coming off a rotation in Iraq who have volunteered to go back.

Willie Johnson, a former football player at Central Washington University, did four years on active duty with another Army chemical unit. He describes himself as nervous but excited.

"It's like knowing that you've got a game coming up," Johnson said.

He plans to call his wife, Jamese, frequently while he's deployed and take other little steps to prove his love before he leaves.

"I'm going to love on my wife every day like it's the last time," he said.

These soldiers admit some reasonable fears about whether they'll return to the United States alive, but state confidently that they are ready for their mission.

"There are concerns, but the way I look at it is the opportunity to serve my country," Johnson said ? something, again, that most people will never do at this level of commitment.

Gibbons and Johnson are among roughly a third of the company's ranks who hail from Central Washington, although commanders note that the hometowns on their roster range from Sequim to Walla Walla.

Lt. Brian Deeken, the company's executive officer, has lived in Yakima for several years. In civilian life, he's a geologist for the state Department of Ecology.

Deeken said he believes the company is ready to go, thanks to training, the returning volunteers and lessons learned by the military since the start of the Iraq war.

Now 31, Deeken joined the Guard two years ago so he wouldn't be disappointed when he gazed in the rearview mirror a decade later.

"I wanted to live life to the fullest, not look back and say, 'There's something I could have done,'" he said.


n Reporter Mark Morey can be reached by phone at 577-7671, or by e-mail at mmorey@yakima-herald.com.
Members of the 792nd Chemical Company of the Washington Army National Guard do their paperwork before leaving for training at Fort Lewis on Aug. 18. From left are Spc. Asa Smith of Yakima, Spc. Rick Findley of Spokane, Spc. Antonio Birrueta of Granger, and Sgt. David Jackson.

[Gunner Carvo]

Hey Mom, that's the Company Jason is in.

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Yes, it is. He's supposed to pick up a Yakima Training Center shirt before he goes?

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Mom & Son...

Thank you and

Arrow>>>>>

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792nd Chemical Company Prepares For Deployment to Iraq



By Charisse Yu


Yakima -
Soldiers from across the valley are getting ready to take off for training and leave for Iraq. The 792nd Chemical Company has more than 150 personnel, 54 of them from the Yakima Valley.

"It'll be hard to leave our friends and family, but we're obligated to do this and I'm willing to," said Spc. Antonia Birrueta.

And it's the second time around for some.

"I volunteered, I was sent to Kuwait, this is why I joined the Army to go to Iraq," says Zachary McClure.

While crews packed up gear and supplies others squared away administrative tasks.

"We want to make sure everyone has their financials in order before they leave, so there won't be any distractions," says Captain Steven Merritt.

The company will provide security, stabilization and other support for military units. There set to be overseas for 18 months.

Bid them farewell on Sunday, July 31st in the Sundome at 1 p.m.

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Community salutes Iraq-bound Guardsmen
By CHARLENE KOSKI
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Hundreds gathered at the SunDome on Sunday to bid farewell to members of the Yakima-based 792nd Chemical Company.

The 150-member Washington Army National Guard unit reports to Fort Lewis on Aug. 18 and will leave for Iraq later this year.

Several family members and soldiers said Sunday's send-off ceremony allowed them to feel more prepared for the mobilization.

"It makes it more real," said Charis Denton of Bremerton, whose husband of seven months, Spc. Eric Denton, is going to Iraq for the first time.

"It brings unity and closeness," offered Spc. Thomas Dooghan of Port Orchard.

Several elected official took advantage of Sunday's farewell event to address the soldiers and offer support.

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings told unit members that if the war in Iraq is successful, future generations will live in a "much more peaceful" world.

He spoke against critics of the war, and said that so far they have been wrong about what kind of changes would be possible in Iraq ? including that country's ability to set up a government and vote.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell sent a letter of support that was read to the troops.

State Sen. Alex Deccio of Yakima simply gave a brief warning to the soldiers: "Don't believe all you see and hear from the national media today. They are biased against this war," he opined before returning to his seat.

Yakima Mayor Paul George informed the group that the city had led efforts to make sure each soldier had a Yakima city flag to take with them to Iraq.

Thirty-eight members of the 792nd have served in Iraq before and volunteered to return. Spc. Maureen Peltier's husband, Staff Sgt. Cory Peltier, is one of those volunteers.

The Sumner couple served in Iraq together and returned one year ago. When the call came for volunteers to go back, they decided one of them needed to stay home with their two children, Maureen Peltier said.

She understands his decision, even if she can't explain it.

"I don't think either one of us has the words for it," she said of their love of the National Guard and their work in Iraq.

The 792nd has its headquarters in Yakima and detachments in Bremerton and Spokane.

It was organized on Sept. 1, 2001. The unit was alerted for its Iraq mission on June 3 and will replace troops working to secure and stabilize that country against insurgents.


n Reporter Charlene Koski can be reached at 577-7749 or by e-mail at
ckoski@yakima-herald.com.



SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Soldiers in the 792 Chemical Company of the Washington Army National Guard walk accross the stage at the SunDome during a community sendoff before they are deployed to Iraq later this month.

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SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Hundreds pay their respects during the singing of the National Anthem which opened the ceremony held in honor of the 792nd Sunday afternoon.

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SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Specialist Nathan Barnes hugs his wife, Stephanie, after the ceremony honoring the 792nd Chemical Company of the Washington Army National Guard