Sunday, December 30, 2007
COLUMBUS — The U.S. military is giving the Ohio National Guard its biggest call-up since World War II this week, sending about 1,600 troops to Kuwait, with some of them going on to Iraq.
With their departure, the guard is doing more to help members’ families.
The 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is spread throughout Ohio and includes another 1,100 soldiers from Michigan. One of the Ohio units is from Austintown.
Members of the unit have been deployed in individual companies or battalions since the terrorist attacks of 2001, but so many haven’t left together as part of the same unit in more than 60 years, Guard spokeswoman Maj. Nicole Gabriel said.
About 300 other Ohio Guard members currently are deployed, Gabriel said. The Ohio Guard, including the Army and Air branches, has a total strength of more than 15,000.
The unit will be based in Kuwait and will have some responsibility for security and convoy escorts in southern Iraq, said Col. Richard Curry, brigade commander.
The old 37th Division fought in the Pacific during World War II and had 9,800 Purple Heart and seven Medal of Honor recipients. The division was retired in 1968.