Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

January 25, 2007 issue

Still in Iraq for Easter

1451st Tour Extended

Story by Kathleen McFadden

The soldiers of the 1451st Transportation Unit of the North Carolina National Guard learned recently that they won’t be heading home in March and April as they originally thought, but their tour of duty has been extended, probably through August—up to another 125 days—but the actual length has not been determined.

The soldiers of the 1451st, headquartered in Boone, left the High Country in February 2006 for training in Indiana and were subsequently deployed to Iraq in March.

The extension is brigade-wide. The 1451st is attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division from the Minnesota National Guard.

According to a spokesman for the National Guard State Public Affairs Office, the reason for the unplanned extension is the unit’s performance. “They are extremely well respected and well depended on,” he said. “The 1451st has done extremely well. Many units request them because of their professionalism and attention to detail.”

Because of the way soldiers are demobilized, the spokesman continued, all the soldiers in the division do not leave at once, and he estimated that soldiers in the unit will see their tours extended by anywhere from 30 to 60 days.

None of the soldiers of the 1451st has been killed in Iraq.

The local Family Readiness Group is planning a big-splash Valentine’s Day box to send to the soldiers, packed with good wishes, homemade Valentine’s Day cards, special treats and necessities.

To find out how to contribute, call Barbara Daye at 828-264-2070.