Peppered among the 2,600 Army National Guard soldiers deploying to Iraq as a part of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Task Force Legion) will be several soldiers from Marion participating in preparations to close out the Iraq War.Among the 1,300 or deploying to the Middle East from Kentucky Guard units are newlyweds Dusty McConnell (pictured at right in a photo held by his wife Jordan) and Josh Urbanowski, each a private first class in separate companies of the 149th. Each man leaves behind a new bride struggling with the anticipated year-long separation from their loved one. One of the couples is also expecting a baby to be born while the soldier is deployed to Iraq.
The deployment is a part of the U.S. military's historic drawdown of troops in Iraq, Operation New Dawn, leading up to the withdrawal of the combat soldiers in that theater.
Read more about the deployment and its effects on local families in this week's edition of The Press.
