82 Minn. National Guard members heading to Iraq

Radar unit
Chief Warrant Officer Paul Peters, left, stood with his wife Carolyn and Sgt. Gerry Page in front of a radar unit like they will be using in support of troops around Baghdad. Their artillery unit specializes in tracking incoming artillery to warn other soldiers and pinpoint where it was fired from. The two men will be among 82 soldiers heading for Ft. Sill, in Oklahoma, then to Iraq for a second year-long deployment with Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Minnesota National Guard has fielded 19,000 troops since 2001, and 12 have died.
MPR Photo/Tim Nelson

Another Minnesota National Guard unit is preparing for deployment to Iraq.

Eighty-two members of Anoka-based E Battery, 151st Field Artillery will leave Minnesota on April 15 in preparation for a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

The group will be responsible for sensor management and administrative, logistical and maintenance support for six radar teams that will be stationed around Baghdad.

The radar teams will provide counter-fire support to bases in the Baghdad area.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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