Local Guard members

are not shipping out
Some soldiers may

deploy with other units
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Although the Boone-based 1451st Transportation Company of the National Guard is not on alert for more active duty in Iraq, some of its soldiers may be shipping out for other units.

Local sources have reported possible activity within the company, but Capt. Christopher Joyner of the National Guard’s public affairs office said, “There is absolutely no alert order regarding the company and nothing is being planned now.”

However, individual members of the unit may be eligible for attachment to other companies in the state, with the National Guard expected to release an eligibility list that will let soldiers know if they might be deployed.

Maj. Matthew Handley of the N.C. National Guard said, “The 1451st is not mobilizing; they would not be eligible since they have recently returned.

“Currently, the N.C.N.G. is conducting some reassignments across the state of soldiers to units that are deploying in the future, (but) only if that soldier has not deployed before. This will not have much if any impact on the 1451st. “

Members of the 1451st were attached to the 1450th based in West Jefferson, and the unit included more than 30 Boone-based soldiers.

They were activated in the fall of 2003, underwent training at Ft. Stewart in Georgia, and were deployed overseas in March of 2004. They returned in April 2005.

The 1451st, with about 150 in the unit, was activated in early 2006, including some soldiers who had been in the first tour and voluntarily returned.

The company primarily conducted base-to-base convoys, carrying supplies and equipment.

About a third of the deployed troops are from the Boone area, and members of the company were also detached from Morganton and Marion. They returned from duty in May 2007.

The company suffered two casualties during the tour of duty.

Sgt. Joshua Schmit 26 of Willmar, Minn., and Sgt. Brandon Wallace, 27, of St. Louis, Mo. were killed on Apr. 17, 2007, when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle.