           |
Massive deployment underway: Tennessee Guardsmen on the march towards Iraq, Afghanistan
9 months ago | 558 views | 0 
| 11 
| 
| 
| 11 | |
National Guard units from throughout Tennessee, including Lafayette, began departing last week and will continue departing this week for pre-mobilization training sites as the first leg of a deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Their departure represents more than 3,000 men and women and brings the total number of Tennessee Guardsmen deployed since 9/11 to nearly 20,000.
Seventy-five guardsmen from Macon County and some of their families gathered Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Lafayette Armory for a send-off celebration. The event included live music, food, a raffle and several speakers from various organizations providing to support to the guardsmen, as well as their families.
Lafayette guardsmen were last deployed to Iraq in 2004-05.
The 1171st Transportation Company, composed of a total of 175 soldiers from Dresden and Tiptonville, left Dresden Friday morning, Dec. 4. The 1171st was bound for Fort Bliss, Texas, and then on to Iraq.
A Regional Corps Advisory Group, a composite of 16 soldiers from various locations in Tennessee, is scheduled to depart Tuesday, Dec. 8, from National Guard Headquarters in Nashville and travel to Camp Atterbury, Ind. This will be the first leg of their deployment to Afghanistan.
The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee's largest unit, is scheduled to leave today for Camp Shelby, Miss., for its pre-mobilization training. They will remain at the Mississippi post for about two months before deploying to Iraq.
The 278th is headquartered in Knoxville and has more than 3,000 soldiers in units across Tennessee. The units will leave from their
respective armories at varying times this morning.
The massive deployment will affect 45 cities and towns in Tennessee. They are:
Knoxville
Henderson
Selmer
Huntingdon
Waynesboro
Clarksville
Springfield
Milan
Ashland City
McKenzie
Cookeville
Gallatin
Jamestown
Livingston
Oneida
McMinnville
Crossville
Rockwood
Dunlap
Monteagle
Kingsport
Sweetwater
Newport
Greeneville
Smyrna
Lobelville
New Tazewell
Columbia
Clinton
Rogersville
Lafayette
Gordonsville
Humboldt
Parsons
Lewisburg
Shelbyville
Winchester
Maryville
Pigeon Forge
Covington
Memphis
Lebanon
Nashville
Athens
Dayton
post a comment
comments (0)
no comments yet
Express yourself:
We're glad to give you a forum to air your point of view on issues important to this community. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or assail anyone's personal or religious beliefs. For anyone who can't be civil, we reserve the right to remove your material. We also reserve the right to ban users who violate our visitor's agreement.
Local Video
Weather
Sponsored By:
Lottery
Sponsored By:
Stocks
Sponsored By:
featured businesses
204 Public Square, Lafayette, TN 37083 phone: 615-666-2144
Johnson Jewelers and Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio
The full-service jewelry store opened in 1978 and includes in-store repair among its services.
Located at 204 Public Square in Lafayette, it ...
405 College Street, Lafayette, TN 37083 phone: 615-666-2111
Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation is a Rural Electric Cooperative located at 405 College Street, P.O. Box 40, Lafayette, TN 37083.
In 1935 the Rural Electric Administration (REA)...
, Lafayette, TN 37083 phone: (615) 688-7663
Quality Roofing Matters
Tony Whittemore takes pride in the quality roofing he and his employees provide. The company has a proud family history as they have been in business for 40 years. N...
Gasoline Prices
Sponsored By:
Recipes
Sponsored By:
