Majority of local troops home for holidays

Majority of local troops belonging to Echo Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry—who are currently training for deployment to Iraq next year—will return home for the holidays, according to Special Assistant for Special Programs Galvin Deleon Guerrero.

In an interview yesterday, Deleon Guerrero indicated that majority are expected to arrive on Dec. 23, a date highlighted with a benefit concert dedicated to all CNMI active-duty troops, including members of Company E.

Deleon Guerrero said an undetermined number of CNMI active-duty troops may also return home for the holidays.

The Saipan Tribune also learned that several families have decided to meet their active-duty family members in the mainland.

Company E member are currently training in Fort Bliss, Texas. After their Christmas leave, the reservists will move to Fort Polk in Louisiana, where they will undergo simulated combat training that goes through war games crafted based on the standards of the U.S Army.

At Fort Polk, the soldiers will be placed in a village with people posing as Iraqi civilians and in situations similar to what they are likely to encounter in Iraq.

The soldiers will start moving in February 2005 to Iraq, where they will stay for a maximum of one year.

The current policy of the Army is to limit the deployment tour of duty to 12 months; however, the timeline is subject to change, depending on how the war in Iraq develops.

Dubbed as Troop Fest 2004, the benefit concert on Dec. 23 consists of community and school performances intended to build troop morale through demonstrations of community support, according to a statement from the concert’s organizers.

The concert will also raise money to help defray the cost of Company E troops returning home. Excess funds generated from the concert would be donated by the Company E Family Readiness Group to a reputable charity organization currently active in Iraq to aid Iraqi children. The donation would be brought to Iraq by Lt. Col. Alan Ostermiller, battalion commander of the 100th Battalion.

The event will also be recorded on DVD and will be distributed to all troops on active duty and their families. Each active duty member would receive two copies.

Deleon Guerrero said organizers are currently seeking assistance, and welcome any monetary donations as well as interested performers for the show.

Interested schools and community performers may contact Angel Hocog at 322-9982/83.

Corporate sponsorship for the concert and DVD production may contact Deleon Guerrero at 664-2213, 664-2280, or email at galvin@itecnmi.com.

Those interested in contributing monetary donations for Company E may contact Mathias A. Chaargualaf at 235-7025/6 or email at compliance@cuc.gov.mp, or public information officer Pete Callaghan at 664-2291 or at callaghan@saipan.com.

Donations for the Iraqi children charity fund may be contributed through Cil Blas at 322-6954/4363 or 323-4675. Blas may also be reached at cil.1.blas@us.army.mil.

The concert is chaired by Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Edward Manibusan. The U.S. Armed Forces Veterans Association of the CNMI also assists as a non-profit partner.

For more information, contact Deleon Guerrero at his mentioned numbers and email address.