The Louisiana National Guard held a deployment ceremony Friday in New Orleans. The 140-plus soldiers of the 3673 Support Maintenance Company (part of the 139TH Regional Support Group) – based in New Orleans – will deploy in aid of the Army’s Operation Spartan Shield. The event was at the World War II Museum in the Crescent City. Captain Mitchel Dougherty is the company Commander…
“This is the first time this venue has been used for a deployment ceremony. I just want to day ‘thank you’ to the World War II Museum for letting us use this venue.”
The 3673rd is a combat support unit; tasked with maintaining military vehicles and material in working order. Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Ira Jones says their role is of utmost importance…
“Whatever that task may be, if we don’t have vehicles that can move the mission ceases…so that’s exactly how important their mission is.”
Operation Spartan Shield in in the Middle East, but exactly where the Louisiana Guardsmen and women are headed is classified. The 3673rd has not been deployed overseas since the Gulf War in the early 1990’s. Col. Jones says the deployment will mean soldiers will be out of the country for quite a while…
“It’s going to last approximately a year in total, from the time that they leave here ‘til they get to return to their families.”
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