Missouri National Guard Reacts to Iraq Troop Withdrawal
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Missouri National Guard Reacts to Iraq Troop Withdrawal

Date: October 26, 2011
By: Elizabeth Hagedorn
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
President Obama announced the war that claimed the lives of more than 4,000 American soldiers, including seven from the Missouri National Guard, is coming to a close.
RunTime:  0:47
OutCue:  SOC

The President's annoucement to pull troops out of Iraq won't have much of an effect on the Missouri National Guard.

...It no longer has any troops stationed there.

But a Black Hawk helicopter unit from Missouri was scheduled to deploy to Iraq this December.

A spokeswoman for the Missouri National Guard says they don't know where or when that helicopter will be sent now.

Meantime, other Missouri units will continue their missions overseas as scheduled.  

Actuality:  SPICER1. 
Run Time:  00:11
Description: We have units that are scheduled to deploy overseas really through the next two years. We have a plan to send approximately 1,000 soldiers overseas.
 
The Missouri National Guard reports it has about 1,000 soldiers currently deployed in Afghanistan, Egypt and Qatar.

From Jefferson City, I'm Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
President Obama announced he's puling U.S. troops from the nearly nine-year long war that claimed the lives of seven Missouri National Guard soldiers.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Right now there aren't any Missouri National Guard soldiers stationed in Iraq.

But one Black Hawk helicopter unit had planned on deploying there this December. 

Here's the Missouri National Guard spokeswoman Major Tammy Spicer.

Actuality:  SPICER2.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: The unit, Charlie company, 1st 106th Aviation Battalion was slated to deploy to Iraq and we now anticipate that deployment changing both in the time frame and the geographic location.

But Spicer said she doesn't have details yet on where this location might be.

Seven Missouri National Guard soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq since 2001.

From Jefferson City, I'm Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.