Ohio Guard call-up said to be largest since WW II

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

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.

Members of the unit have been deployed in individual companies or battalions since the terrorist attacks of 2001, but it's more than 60 years since so many left as one unit, Guard spokesman Maj. Nicole Gabriel said.

Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS24/712310371/-1/NEWS

[Faygo Kid]

1. Got to have them in place when we attack Iran in February

I still think an attack on Iran is a done deal, and it will happen in February or March. And that an election happening is still up in the air.

[lovuian]

20. I think you may be right there

sometimes I think they have no intention of leaving the Whitehouse

[Owl]

2. Just say no.

This crap has to stop.

[rms013]

3. Re-gifting the people of Ohio

As the season of giving ends the Administration is giving a gift to the people whose state election officials gave GWB the presidency.

[Barrett808]

4. Welcome to DU, rms!

:hi:

[uppityperson]

5. k&r, happy holidays.

bah

[Snarkoleptic]

6. People will remain complacent until we institute the draft.

When more people have a 'dog in the fight', we'll have a widespread awakening.
Only then will we end this madness and move toward chimpeachment.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. People are not complacent. Draft yourself. nt.

[trogdor]

29. Lots of people are.

Believe me on this.

[geiger]

7. donor state again, regardless of the letter(s) Strickland sends

[pleah]

8. Bushdicks resolution for the new year, send more young people to die in his war for oil!

[Mnemosyne]

9. And * intends to keep it.

:cry:

[Cobalt-60]

10. The must be protected from Caging

I don't put anything past the criminal usurpers currently squatting in the White House.
They could be doing this to suppress these soldiers' votes.
Every one of these soldiers' votes needs to be aggressively defended.
They plan on another steal in Ohio.
It needs to be pre-empted.

[defendandprotect]

23. Yeah -- and who will defend these votes --- the DLC/or Democratic Party???

Where is the concern for votes and the concern for vote stealing that we've seen over last decades???
Anyone in the Democratic Party interested --- ??

[Cobalt-60]

28. I was thinking of thier friends and families

Keep checking and re checking the validity of their registration up until election day.
Make damned sure their mail is caught by a human hand and not automatically forwarded.

[defendandprotect]

30. The Democratic Party is not reacting sufficiently to all the ways GOP has

been stealing elections --- going back to mid-1960's ---

See Votescam -- The Stealing of America
by Jim & Ken Collier
there's a website

26 year investigation of computer steals ---

[TomClash]

11. What a shoddy way to run an Empire nt

[krispos42]

12. And what's the conventional wisdom?

Republicans can't win the Presidency without Ohio?

I believe that historically, every time a Repub wins the White House, Ohio was in the "win" column. Much ado was made about his fact back in 2004.

Nice timing on the part of the DoD

[defendandprotect]

13. Where did they get license to do this? Isn't this a precedent?

Why can't Congress stop this --- ???

Congress should be forcing the Pentagon to live up to their contracts with all soldiers--
and not letting them keep extending their tours!!

[hack89]

19. What are you talking about?

where does it say that their tours are being extended? This is a routine deployment - 6 years after 911 they are all volunteers and know exactly what they are getting into.

[defendandprotect]

21. National Guard Troops are volunteers for war zones?

The extension of tours for the military is a separate issue --- and something which shouldn't be permitted.

[hack89]

24. The National Guard is part of the Army of the United States

The Army National Guard is part of the United States Army, comprising approximately one half of its available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. The Air National Guard is part of the United States Air Force.

The National Defense Act, 1916

This act abandoned the idea of an expandable Regular Army and firmly established the traditional concept of the citizens' army as the keystone of the United States defense forces. It established the concept of merging the National Guard, the Army Reserve, and the Regular Army into the Army of the United States in time of war. The act further expanded the National Guard's role, and guaranteed the State militias' status as the Army's primary reserve force. The law mandated use of the term "National Guard" for that force, and the President was given authority, in case of war or national emergency, to mobilize the National Guard for the duration of the emergency. The number of yearly drills increased from 24 to 48 and annual training from five to 15 days. Drill pay was authorized for the first time.


The National Guard Mobilization Act, 1933

Made the National Guard a component of the Army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_of_the_United_States

So yes, members of the National Guard are volunteers for war zones.

[defendandprotect]

25. Was the National Guard used in VN? In the first Gulf War?

How much of a predcendent is this --- ???

[Thothmes]

26. During Viet Nam

Yess but the National Guard and the Army Reserves were seldom called up for duty in S.E.Asia. LBJ & McNamara decided early in 1964 that the war would be fought with draftees. That is why the Reserve and NG became very popular organizations be be member of. It for the most part would keep you out of Viet Nam.

[defendandprotect]

31. Right --- so they were NOT used in Vietnam . . .

So -- this is somewhat of a precedent --- !!!

Why didn't Congress react to this insane proposal --- ???

[hack89]

27. They were the nucleus of the Army in WWII

140,000 were mobilized for Korea.

8700 for Vietnam

75,000 for Desert Storm

http://www.ngb.army.mil/About/default.aspx

[rodeodance]

14. and some will not come home walking.

[sarcasmo]

15. The question is will Israel attack Iran first?

[defendandprotect]

22. I've come to the conclusion that --- like the Taliban -- WE are Israel -- r-w insane Israel -- !!

[sarcasmo]

35. We are Israels puppet master.

Like Cheney is Bushes puppet master.

[defendandprotect]

39. Seems clear to me --- !!!

[ohio2007]

16. sending 600 troops to Kuwait ( riding shotgun for convoy escort)

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS24/712310371/-1/NEWS

Might have something to do with the Brits bugging out of Basra actually.

[indypaul]

18. Ditto for Indiana except there are 3500

National Guardsmen leaving tomorrow for training in
Georgia before departure for Iraq in March. Thought
the surge was working, but for whom?

[Bzzzz]

32. My Best Friends...

son-in-law left today. He and her daughter were just married 4 days ago. The speeches at the Dome were sickening today. All that could be said over and over and over was "freedom":puke:
I hope this young man comes home safely.

[indypaul]

37. Probably the only thing more agonizing

than listening to a speech from Dan Burton, would be
to go shopping at Mike Pence's market in Iraq. Wish
them all the very best and will pray for their safe
return daily. I'm certain those troops have a better
understanding of their duties than those who are
responsible for placing them in harms-way.

[bronxiteforever]

33. Pennsylvania National Guard call-ups in October-largest since Korea

Pa. Guard expecting major call-largest overseas since Korea


By Tom Infield and Edward Colimore

Inquirer Staff Writers
Nearly 4,000 Pennsylvania National Guard troops are likely headed to Iraq late next year, including members of an infantry company that had six men killed there in 2005.

Soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Northeast Philadelphia and scattered among 39 armories across the state, were individually notified by a phone chain yesterday and on Wednesday to expect an alert order.

If the Pentagon goes ahead with the deployment, this would be the greatest number of Pennsylvania national guardsmen to serve in Iraq at any one time. It would also be the largest state Guard contingent to serve overseas since the Korean War.

[IndianaGreen]

34. This is the largest call-up since WWII for the Indiana Guard as well!

Our brave and selfless men and women got a big send off today at the RCA Dome, where the Colts play their home games. They are going for several months of training before being deployed to Iraq.

Who is the man or woman that will turn this evil war off and bring our troops home?

[LaurenG]

36. A co-worker whose son joined the military was told 3 weeks ago he was going to Pakistan

this was before Ms. Bhutto was assassinated. (We are in Ohio)

[Kip Humphrey]

38. Somethings up! Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio NG... My nephew's unit in Fallusah is about to

go on a "TOP SECRET" mission of unannounced duration - a first for the Marine unit referred to as the "Go To" unit in Iraq.