Pa. Marine reservists will go back to Iraq

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Dozens of local Marine Corps reservists start preparations today to go back to Iraq in the spring for a seven-month tour of duty.
The members of Harrisburg-based Echo Company were part of the unit that rolled into Iraq during the invasion in early 2003, providing security and working with Iraqi leaders to restart municipal services mostly around Nasiriyah, about 230 miles southeast of Baghdad.
Maj. Steven Kotansky, company inspector instructor, said Saturday that 75 members of the unit will serve with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.
Kotansky said that group -- slightly less than half the company -- will leave today for training at Fort Devens, Mass.
They'll be home for Christmas, but then leave in January for further training at the Marine base at Twentynine Palms, Calif. The unit will deploy to Iraq in March for seven months.
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