Guard on move to Iraq

By DENNIS ANDERSON
Valley Press Editor

CAMP ROBERTS - Troops of the California National Guard transportation unit headed for their role in "Operation Iraqi Freedom" emptied out their barracks Thursday, headed for the Persian Gulf.

Camp Roberts officials confirmed Friday the unit is in Iraq.

Dozens of soldiers from the Antelope Valley are members of the 1498th Transportation Company, "The Big Awesome Truck Company" that is assigned a combat support and humanitarian relief role as the smoke from the recent war in Iraq settles.

"It's still dangerous out there," said Staff Sgt. James Kallsen with the company's 1st Platoon. "We're going to keep our heads down."

Getting the unit moved overseas represents a series of small military history benchmarks. The unit was assembled from other transportation companies statewide, with major elements drawn from Riverside-San Bernardino, the Antelope Valley and Sacramento. Some Guard troops in the unit are from as far north as Arcata, and as far south as a "border operations" counter-drug unit in San Diego.

The 45-ton Heavy Equipment Transporter System trucks the unit operates are built in Oshkosh, Wis., and represent the newest equipment in the California National Guard. They are being used for the first time overseas in a combat arena.

The Guard soldiers were trained under supervision of the 91st Division, based in Los Alamitos.

"We've done all we can to assist these soldiers and help get them ready to go," said Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Lymon of Moreno Valley.

"This is truly a statewide unit, and it will have a historic role in the humanitarian relief component of Operation Iraqi Freedom," Brig. Gen. James P. Combs, commander of the 49th Combat Support Command, said in advance of the group's deployment.

The unit's commander, on the eve of deployment overseas, said the group has achieved a great deal by coming from so many places and working together, but there is much ahead to be done.

"I'm proud of you," Capt. Matthew R. Hook told the troops, who had just been issued their desert camouflage uniforms.

"You've trained hard and worked hard. We have come about one-third of the distance, and the hard part lies ahead," Hook said.

After weeks of what appeared to be a mysterious delay, the 48-hour order was announced Wednesday.

"When we got the order, I was almost giddy, and I don't get giddy," 1st Sgt. James R. Norris said.

The troops, activated for federal duty Feb. 11, have trained intensively and continuously for the past three months at Fort Lewis, Wash., and also at Camp Roberts, the state Guard training center straddling San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.

"We're ready. Let's go," said Spc. Robert Bennett of Lancaster as he read a local newspaper account about preparations for the unit's departure.

About a third of the company's several hundred soldiers are Marine Corps veterans. About half the soldiers are "prior service," with many combat veterans. The age span stretches from 18-year-old raw recruits to seasoned soldiers who are closer to their 60th than their 50th birthdays.

"We're the old guys," said Staff Sgt. William Walker, a Vietnam veteran of the Marine Corps unit called "The Walking Dead."

"We're not young, but we know how to get it done. We've got the combat experience to look out for the younger soldiers," Walker said.

Back in the Antelope Valley, Yolanda Almeida, a security staff member at R. Rex Parris Continuation School, said by telephone interview from Littlerock that she was at home, ready to carry on responsibilities she usually shares with her husband, Sgt. Humbert Almeida.

"I'm a military wife," she said. "We had both of our children when he was stationed in Germany. When he's gone, I have to do all the usual things. Pay the bills, get the kids to school."

She said her children were supporting her and helping her get over the anxiety of separation.

"You know, they said, 'Hey, Dad knows what he's doing. He'll come back in one piece.' "

The troops departed from an Air Force base in Northern California. General instructions to the unit are that they will use their big 91,000-pound tractor-trailer trucks to retrieve tanks used in Operation Iraqi Freedom and to deliver food or medical supplies needed to help Iraq recover from the war launched in March that destroyed the regime of Saddam Hussein.