Published: August 21, 2008 09:52 am      

Weatherford soldiers deploy to Iraq

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

The war effort in Iraq still needs soldiers. This time, the war hits home.

The latest unit called consists of more than 50 men, including Weatherford soldiers from the 840th Mac EN battalion.

SSgt. Ernest Zamparelli said the majority of the men with the Infantry Brigade Combat Team are currently stationed throughout the state on various training assignments.

Zamparelli said half of the combat engineer unit was activated and will be disbursed throughout the 56th as “fillers” to make the brigade complete.

The men will be stationed throughout Iraq on a force protection mission.

They will officially deploy sometime in November.

Zamparelli said for security reasons, he could not disclose the exact number of men, their names, specific deployment location and details about their mission.

Zamparelli did confirm the men will be going into a combat zone while overseas.

Their next move before deployment will be to travel to Fort Stewart in Georgia where they will disembark to Iraq.

“Most of the men just returned from Afghanistan, Iraq and Egypt on peace-keeping missions,” Zamparelli said.

He added they almost immediately prepared to redeploy.

For some of the men, this will be their second or third tour of duty, for others, this will be their first time in foreign territory.

The unit’s ages range from mid 20s to 40s.

Their deployment will consist of a one-year mobilization.

A Family Readiness Group stationed in Waco, where the Cavalry Unit is based, will be available to lend support for family members of the soldiers while they are gone.

The unit is replacing an existing group of soldiers who will be returning to the States upon the unit’s arrival.

“This is a tremendous unit,” Zamparelli said. “I’m proud to be with them. Their work ethic is unbelievable.”

Although the soldiers have only been together as a unit for two months, Zamparelli said they bonded “extremely well.”

“They’re ready,” he said. “They’ve cross-trained with other units and they always finish first.”

Major Hooker commented on the dedication of the unit.

“In all sincerity, if it wasn’t for the commitment of both themselves emotionally and mentally, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish this mission,” Hooker said. “The term ‘filler’ ended the day they arrived. They’re all Cav Troopers.”