Indiana National Guard Engineers Departing for Training, Then Iraq

The Indiana National Guard's 1313th Engineer Company will hold its departure ceremony at Columbus East High School, Main Gymnasium, at 1. p.m., on Thursday, May 21. The school is at 230 South Marr Road in Columbus, Ind.

Indiana's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, received notification in December that the engineer Soldiers would deploy to Iraq to support the Global War on Terrorism.

Approximately 160 Soldiers from the unit, based at Camp Atterbury, will depart for Fort McCoy, Wis., to hone their skills critical for their time in theater. The unit is commanded by Capt. John Lubbe, and the top enlisted Soldier is 1st Sgt. Robert Hempstead. The Soldiers are scheduled to conduct a wide-range of engineering operations while in Iraq.

"This is a historic time for our Indiana National Guard Soldiers to be deployed to Iraq," said Maj. Gen. Umbarger. "Each day the Iraqi people are taking steps to stabilize their own country with our help."

The unit's deployment time should be no longer than one year. Media are invited to attend the ceremony, but should arrive after noon.