More shots from the National Guard deployment
I keep coming back to this subject, which occurred Friday, because it was such a moving experience for me.
This is a moment in history, another in a long line of moments in this protracted war. One of my first assignments, as a college-student intern at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in the Summer of 2004, was to cover the funeral of a local boy blown up by an IED in Iraq.
Hard to believe that was so long ago. Harder still to believe that National Guard troops are still being sent on yearlong deployments to the combat zone.
The guards I talked to all said something similar: Despite different training specialties (mechanics, communications, etc.) everyone was going to serve in the infantry this time. The regular army is stretched thin, and the U.S. needs these part-time soldiers to serve as combat troops on the ground.
This picture is of Brandon Jackson and his 18-month-old son Izea. Jackson, of Bellflower, told me it did no good to dwell on how much he would miss his family and his son, or the perils of what he would face in the Middle East. He cradled Izea with one arm and held his M-4 assault rifle slung over his shoulder. He said he joined in May 2006, to help pay for classes at ITT Tech.
Click below for more shots of Jackson and his son, as well as a gallery of other shots from the day ...
This is David Atkins, 47, who works at a hardware store in Fontana. A guardmember since 1986, he said he was honored to be deployed and that his boss will hold his job while he serves in the infantry. Atkins is a man a fierce pride and few words.
"I love my country," Atkins said.
A soldier chats with students from Henry Vapa Academy in Rialto, whose students will be penpals with the soldiers during their deployment and fly a U.S. flag in their honor.
Student presents flag to soldier. This flag, donated by the Rialto Fire Department, will fly briefly at basecamp in Iraq before being sent back to the states, where Henry Vapa Academy will fly it until the soldiers return home.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
I am FRG for Echo Co 1 185th, it was a very emotional day! Everyone should be proud of all of these men and women..
Hooah!!!
I am so proud that our children at Henry VAPA Academy were invited to perform for these awesome men and women. The children learned about respect, country and patriotism during this moment in their lives. We recieved our first 4 letters from the soilders at our school and there were cheers and excitement felt over the WHOLE school. We are so proud to be penpals to some of these wonderful courageous soliders.