Oregon Public Broadcasting

Hundreds of Oregon National Guard troops will be honored in mobilization ceremonies Monday in Eugene and Central Point.

The 2700 troops shipping out represent the largest deployment of Oregon servicemembers since World War II.

Ethan Lindsey reports young men and women heading to Iraq were honored in Portland and Bend on Saturday.

Oregon's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Tigard.

Troops were honored at Memorial Coliseum in Portland and at Mountain View High School in Bend.

Robert Cusick is the Bend-area district commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He says when he attends troop deployments, he remembers his own mobilization in California before heading to Vietnam.

President Lyndon Johnson was there.

Robert Cusick: “Let’s put it this way: he shook the hands of about four or five guys there. Every one he shook the hand of came back in a body bag. And I am glad he didn’t shake mine. And that guy was scared to death because he knew he was sending a lot of us over to our death.”

Cusick says he prays for the safety of today's troops -- and adds that when these soldiers return home they'll  likely receive more public support than he did after Vietnam.