Jun 30, 2002 By Patty Shultz 3 min read

Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series of stories chronicling the deployment of the Connellsville-based National Guard unit.ANNVILLE – Members of the Connellsville-based National Guard arrived Friday afternoon at Fort Dix, in the second phase of preparation for their deployment to Europe. The 33 men of Company D, 1st Battalion, 103 Armor spent two days at Fort Indiantown Gap to complete required paperwork and will spend approximately three weeks in training at the New Jersey site. Three other members of the detachment were sent as an advance team to Fort Dix to ready the base for the arrival.

The local unit is part of the first wave of National Guardsmen to prepare for a security mission at numerous military installations in Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.

The deployment marks the largest mobilization for the 28th Division since the Korean War, when the entire division was called up to reinforce NATO troops in Germany.

Soldiers from several companies of the division lined the narrow streets within the barracks’ compound awaiting the arrival of buses that would take them to the same destination.

They had been awakened at 5 a.m. in order to clean their temporary living quarters, retrieve their weapons and prepare for departure.

Company commander Lt. Dana Keith said that on arrival the soldiers would be assigned housing, turn over their guns and learn of their training schedule.

According to Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, spokesman for the state Department of Military and Veterans Public Affairs Office, the soldiers will learn how to search vehicles, patrol operations and protocols necessary for where they will be stationed in Europe.

While the majority of the local unit is slated to be deployed to Italy, others in the group will be mobilized in Germany. The date of departure from Fort Dix is scheduled for July 17.

Cleaver, however, said the unit members could be transferred to the other European bases, if necessary.

“The plan right now is to move the people around,” he said. “You’re more valuable to the State Department of Defense if you become familiar with all the bases.”

Additionally, said Cleaver, the soldiers would have the opportunity to visit landmarks and other notable sites in several countries if they were to be transferred throughout Europe.

Keith, meanwhile, said his company was “ready to go.”

“They are a great bunch of guys and the morale is very good,” he said. “I’m very fortunate in that I have a lot of (military) veterans who know what to expect and how to get the job done.”

At 9 a.m., as scheduled, the bus pulled to the front of barracks 13-43 and the men stowed their gear and boarded one by one, while Keith looked for forgotten items.

“We’re ready,” he said.