More Guardsmen to return to Iraq as part of 110th

In six days, about 80 area National Guard soldiers will leave for training before going to Iraq.

Before they leave Friday, the soldiers will attend a special public ceremony at 7:30 a.m. at the Cape Girardeau Armory. U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson and Jackson Mayor Paul Sander are scheduled to attend. The soldiers then will leave at 8 a.m. by buses from the ceremony. Steve Engelmann, of the battalion's Family Assistance Center, said the ceremony is to give families a chance to say good-bye and to remind the soldiers that their work is appreciated.

"We like them to know that the public supports them," Engelmann said. "Whether or not the general public does, they should know that we support them and that Southeast Missouri supports them, for that matter."

From Cape Girardeau, the soldiers will join with the 110th Engineer Battalion in Kansas City. The 110th is drawing from other units to fill its ranks, Engelmann said. The soldiers will stay in Kansas City for a week to 10 days before moving on to Fort Riley, Kan., for training.

The soldiers could be sent to Iraq anytime within the next five months. They will stay in the country for a year.

Most of the soldiers leaving from Cape Girardeau on Friday are in the 1140th Engineer Battalion or the HHD 35th Engineer Brigade Infantry Division. But Engelmann said soldiers from other units also may be leaving from Cape Girardeau to join with the 110th. Cape Girardeau is a major staging area, along with Joplin, Mo., Fort Leonard Wood and Jefferson Barracks.

The 1140th has already done one tour in Iraq -- the soldiers came home in March after being deployed since February 2004. Engelmann said a few of the soldiers have chosen to sign up again.

"It's strictly voluntary," Engelmann said. "They're not being strong-armed to go back."

The 1140th, which is made up of more than 400 soldiers, had no casualties during its last tour of duty.

Spc. Lance Ruebel, 21, of Cape Girardeau, will be leaving for Iraq for the first time with the 1140th. Ruebel said he knew there was a possibility that he could be sent to Iraq when he joined the military two years ago, although he didn't really think then that it would happen.

But Ruebel, who is recently married, said he is more excited than nervous about leaving, even though it's going to be difficult. His wife is expecting their first child in December.

"A lot is happening at once for me," he said.

wmcferron@semissourian.com

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