Posted on 07/31/2005 9:31:31 AM PDT by Stonewall Jackson
Explosives unit headed back into Iraqi fray
By ERICA WALSH
About 20 Fort Knox soldiers are on their way to Iraq, some for a second time in two years.
The 703rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment from Fort Knox left for Iraq on Saturday morning, family members said.
This is the second deployment for the Fort Knox detachment, which spent September 2003 to March 2004 in Iraq. The unit is responsible for finding, recovering and disposing of explosive devices. About half of the group that left for Iraq Saturday also deployed to the country during the unit's first trip.
The soldiers and their families have known for several months they likely would be deployed, but learned the exact date about a week ago.
The unit has been training for about six months for the deployment with exercises at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., and at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
During its previous deployment, the 703rd supported the 82nd Airborne Division and worked out of Fallujah. The team lost two members while there, Staff Sgt. Kimberley A. Voelz, 27, who was killed in December 2003, and Staff Sgt. Richard P. Ramey, who was killed in February 2004.
The losses made family members at home more realistic this time around, said Nikki Puig, wife of 703rd member 1st Sgt. David Puig.
"We're looking at it without blinders this time," she said. "We know now that anything can happen." But the past has to stay in the past, she said, and family members will continue to band together to support the unit, which includes several soldiers on their first deployments.
The unit remains close-knit, partly because with less than 1,000 soldiers, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is one of the smallest sections of the Army.
The 703rd is expected to be gone for about six months, according to Fort Knox Public Affairs officials. While they're gone, members of the 707th EOD from Fort Lewis, Wash., will take care of the duties on post.
For the families at home, it's hard to see their soldiers leave, but most are confident that their loved ones will serve the country well.
"They're a good group," Nikki Puig said. "They've worked their butts off, they've trained and they're ready to go."
Erica Walsh can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 238, or e-mail her at ewalsh@thenewsenterprise.com.
My daughter and son-in law were in the 710th out of San Diego, they lost 3 fine young men on 4-15-02 while deployed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Every time I hear of our brave young men going into harms way I send up high-octane prayers for thier safe return.
God bless and protect our troops.
Bless em all....
What?!
Look somebody's got to have some damned perspective around here.
Boom. Sooner or later . . . BOOM!"
-- Earth Alliance Lt. Commander Susan Ivanova
May all their booms be simulated in training only.
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