Army Reserve soldiers from a Fort Dodge unit that's destined for a year of active duty heard two words over and over Sunday afternoon: ''thank you.''
Those were the two words a series of speakers used repeatedly during a ceremonial sendoff for 25 members of the 875th Replacement Co. who will go to Fort Benning, Ga., in May. There, they'll help other soldiers, contractors and civilian employees of the Department of Defense get ready for overseas missions.
About 100 people filled the main drill room of the Army Reserve Center at 1627 Nelson Ave. to salute the troops described as ''heroes in our midst'' by state Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge.
U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames, thanked the soldiers and their families, who he said ''really sacrifice so much for our country to be successful in this global war on terror.''
Beall said that since the Civil War, Iowans have served in the military at a higher per capita rate than residents of any other state.
''Thank you for everything you do,'' he said to the troops standing in formation before a huge American flag. ''You're great and we're grateful.''
The upcoming deployment will be the second one for the unit in five years. In 2005, the company went to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they did similar work at a facility called a Continental Replacement Center. Since the local soldiers returned in 2006, the center at Fort Bliss closed and all of that work was shifted to Fort Benning.
For 10 of the soldiers, the Fort Benning assignment will be the second active duty deployment.
''We will grow and become better soldiers,'' Capt. Sherry Halbur, the company's commander, said of the upcoming mission.
To do that mission, the troops and their families will sacrifice precious time together.
Col. Glenn Kolin of the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, acknowleged the burden that spouses, children and other family members of the troops will shoulder when the company departs.
''Your mission at home is going to be even harder,'' he said.
State Rep. Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge, knows exactly what Kolin was speaking about. Her husband, Dr. Ed Miller, is a retired Air Force colonel. The lawmaker said she and her children endured some deployments, most recently during the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War.
''The call to military service is an honor,'' Miller said. But she added that stress and sacrifice come with it.
She urged everyone at the ceremony to ''wrap your arms of care and compassion around returning veterans.''
Jim Peterson, a former member of the unit who represented the American Legion at the ceremony, said the group ''will bend over backwards'' to help the troops and their families.
''I thank you very much for what you do for our country,'' Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich said.
He also thanked the families of the soldiers ''for what you sacrifice.''
At the beginning of the ceremony, the soldiers marched into the cavernous room, led by Halbur and Spc. Jonathan McElroy, who carried the unit's blue guidon.
Near the end of the ceremony, Halbur promoted Shantel Arispe, of New Hampton, from private to private first class. Halbur pulled the private's insiginia from Arispe's uniform and replaced it with the private first class emblem.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
