WINONA -- Winona's Bravo Battery 2/114th Field Artillery Unit will deploy Friday morning for a 12 month deployment to Iraq.
The battery is part of the Mississippi Army National Guard's 155th Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Tupelo and will mobilize under a Presidential Partial Mobilization of Reserve Forces. The combat team consists of 3,400 soldiers from 51 units across the state.
According to Battery Commander Captain Matt Jollit, the 2/114th Field Artillery is made up of 50 soldiers from Winona and 50 soldiers from Kosciusko.
"We are a field artillery battery but we will not be doing a field artillery mission in Iraq," Jollit said. "We will be doing security missions. A motorized rifle company is what we are transitioning to for deployment."
The 155th Combat Team will travel to Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg where they will train until mid-June when they will deploy to Iraq.
Governor Haley Barbour, commander in chief of the Mississippi National Guard, said in a release, "These are highly training soldiers, and I know they will again do an excellent job supporting our national defense. Marsha and I wish them well, and we certainly stand by all of them and their families."
Jollit said his troops will be stationed in the northern portion of Iraq.
The 155th Brigade Team previously deployed to Iraq in January of 2005, returning in January 2006. According to Army reports, "the brigade conducted security operations, cordon and search missions, and helped facilitate three national elections. They also participated in numerous humanitarian projects that increased quality of life for thousands of Iraqi citizens."
Jollit said, "This is the same battery that deployed in 2005. For most of the soldiers this is the second deployment. It is a quick turnaround for a deployment."
Bravo Battery 2/114th Field Artillery Unit will depart from the Winona National Guard Armory at 10:59 a.m.
The City of Winona is planning a special farewell celebration for the troops beginning at 10:00 a.m., and the community is invited to participate.
"We wanted to do something to show our thanks," Mayor Jerry Flowers said.
At the Armory, the Sophistocats Show Choir from Winona Elementary School, led by director Patti Corley, will entertain the troops and their family and friends. The Winona High School marching band will also be onsite. Winona's Bronwyn Metcalf will perform the National Anthem.
Flowers said that the troops will make their way south down Highway 51, and students from Winona Elementary School and Winona Christian School will line the roadway to wave goodbye.
"The entire community is asked to gather along Highway 51 at 11 a.m. to wish our troops well," Flowers said.
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