California National Guard To Conduct Largest Unit Deployment Since Korean War

This unit has already served one year-long tour to Iraq from April 2004 to 2005

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment, 81st Infantry Brigade, I Corps, in their M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Mosul, Iraq. February 2005 Photo: Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. ) - A farewell ceremony for approximately 850 California National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 185th Armor will be held Friday, August 22nd, at the National Orange Show Fairgrounds in San Bernardino, Calif.

The soldiers, from throughout California, will leave for Fort McCoy, Wisconsin after Friday's ceremony where they will spend approximately two months preparing for their year-long deployment to Iraq. This is the largest California National Guard single-unit deployment since the Korean War.

The unit's recent deployment history includes a successful year-long mobilization to Iraq from April 2004 to 2005. During their upcoming tour in Iraq, the armor battalion will be conducting convoy security at several locations throughout the country.

The unit is being augmented with two infantry companies, also from the California National Guard; A company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry based out of Visalia, Calif., and B company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry based out of Dublin, Calif.

There will be multiple California National Guard and state officials present at the departure ceremony, which begins at 10:00 AM. The day's events will conclude with an official ceremony, which begins at 4:00 PM.

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