By RANDY ERICKSON
West Salem Coulee News (WI)

About 70 area citizensoldiers are leaving their families and jobs behind this week to begin several weeks of training, the first step in a yearlong mobilization that will likely take them to the Middle East. The
state’s American Legion chapters want to make sure that the loved ones the
soldiers leave behind know they are not alone.

Last week, the Onalaska American Legion hosted a pre-mobilization sendoff arty for members of Company A of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

The soldiers in Company A are based at the Onalaska National Guard Armory, and most of them already have served a 2005-06 tour of duty in region Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Since Company A’s last deployment, the state American Legion has partnered with the Wisconsin Army National Guard to help provide support for families of soldiers deployed in the Middle East.

“Our role is to assist after the unit’s been mobilized and deployed, to assist families if there’s a need there,” explained Onalaska Legion Commander Jim Nelson. “We want to make sure they have a safety net, so if they can’t get assistance through their channels they can turn to us.”

Military units have family readiness groups designed to help loved ones cope while their soldiers are away on duty, and Operation Homefront has been very active locally in lending a hand to soldier’s families.

But if families don’t know where to turn, Nelson said the American Legion wants them to know they can turn to their local Legion post for help. And that goes for families of soldiers deployed with all branches of the military, not just the National Guard.

The Onalaska Legion event on Jan. 2 didn’t draw a huge crowd. Part of that could have been the timing, with soldiers wanting to spend some private time with their families and friends during the holidays with departure looming.

Part of it also could have been that the soldiers feel secure in the support network in place with their family readiness group and Operation Homefront.

“Everybody’s been real great to us,” said Lt. Jonathan Barnett of Onalaska, Company A’s executive officer. “I don’t think (any soldiers or families) think we’re not getting enough thanks or support.”

A 10-year veteran of the Guard, Barnett said a sendoff event for friends and family is in the works for Company A in mid-February, most likely at the Onalaska OmniCenter. A large-scale send off for the roughly 3,500 members of the 32nd Brigade is planned for Feb. 17 in Madison.

While some members of Company A say they are going to Afghanistan, Barnett said that’s not necessarily true. At this point, he said, Company A is
assigned to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Going to Afghanistan would mean reassignment to Operation Enduring Freedom. That’s possible, he said, but far from certain.

“We might go but I don’t have an order,” he said.
“It’s the Army, so there’s always a rumor.”