Oregon Public Broadcasting

Another round of Oregon soldiers is heading to Iraq.  Twenty soldiers from the 2-641 Aviation Regiment will fly military personnel and equipment between bases in the region.  

Warrant Officer James Swift is from Stayton, Oregon.  It’s his first deployment to Iraq and he says he’ll miss his wife and two young children.

James Swift: “Being in the military you always know that this is something you could be asked to do.  And so we always try to have my family ready in case we’re asked to do this.  So we are excited to go, but a little apprehensive about missing my family.”

The group was honored at a mobilization ceremony at the Oregon capitol Tuesday.  The soldiers are expected to be in Iraq for about six months.