Ill. National Guard units leave for Iraq deployment role

CAIRO, Ill. -- Yellow ribbons lined the main streets of Cairo Monday as members of an Illinois National Guard unit left to join others in East St. Louis and Rock Falls before deploying for Iraq.

About 70 members of the 1344th Transportation Company based in East St. Louis and Cairo were driving to Rock Falls on Monday, where they were to join the 1644th Transportation Company before heading to an Army mobilization center at Fort McCoy, Wis.

After about a month of training there, the unit of about 320 soldiers will leave for Iraq or Kuwait, serving under the banner of the 1644th, said Chief Warrant Officer Bud Roberts of the Illinois National Guard.

It will be the first time in the current war the units are deployed to Iraq, Roberts said.

About 2,500 Illinois National Guard troops, or about 36 percent of the state's total force, are deployed, Roberts said.

Justin Bazan, 21, of Marion sat at the Cairo armory with his wife Sunday, gathering his mobilization orders.

Layla Bazan said the uncertainty is difficult.

"Obviously I'm nervous about his part," she said. "What's he going to be doing, where is he going to be?"

Members of a local veterans group tied yellow ribbons around Cairo street lights in tribute to the soldiers.

They will be deployed for 12 to 18 months.