Temple Guard unit mobilizes for first time since WWII

[Horse with no Name]

It's been more than 60 years since the Texas National Guard unit in Temple has gone to war. Tuesday, soldiers in the unit mobilized to get ready for training at Fort Hood before heading to Iraq.

Commander of the 136th Battalion, Lt. Col. Timothy Smith, says, “When they rose their hand and swore to protect the Constitution of the United States, they knew what it was going to take and in some measure, knew that this was something that was probably going to happen and did it anyway.”

This is the first time the Texas National Guard unit in Temple has been activated since World War II. Later this week, they head to Fort Hood for training before a year long deployment in Iraq.”

Sounds like some of them are excited?:scared:

http://www.kcentv.com/news/c-article.php?cid=1&nid=7800

[whistle]

1. They may be going to Crawford before they ship out to Iraq.....

...(see Ohio National Guard, Kent State May 1970).

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is the classic piss and vinegar before a deployment

[SteppingRazor]

3. I imagine a lot of them are excited...

National Guard ain't like the reserves. A lot of people sign up for the Guard in peacetime because it's the best way to see action -- riots, protests, etc.
Not all of them, of course. But quite a few of the Guard are very gung ho.

[atreides1]

4. NO Colonel Smith

They swore to defend and support the Constitution, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same.

By allowing the abhorent Patriot Act to become law, they have already failed to defend the Constitution. Now all they are being sent to do is to kill Iraqis and to return some of their own in
flag draped coffins, or missing body parts, or missing their minds!!!

This unit is doing nothing that is noble, patriotic, or in defense of the Constitution. They are just following orders blindly and they also will suffer for that misplaced loyalty, just as others already have.