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Around 800 Minnesota National Guard
soldiers will be leaving for Iraq this summer, the Guard announced
Tuesday.

      Col. David Elicerio, deputy commander of the 34th Infantry,
first disclosed the deployment Tuesday during a Boy Scouts of
America leadership breakfast in St. Cloud. 

      The Guard issued an official announcement Tuesday evening,
saying the troops will leave in late May for Fort Sill, Okla., for
three months of training before heading to Iraq.

      The deployment will involve soldiers from the 34th Combat
Aviation Brigade out of Camp Ripley and St. Paul, which flies
Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters in support of the 34th Infantry
Division. 

They will perform combat service support missions, such
as transporting cargo, personnel and material, the Guard said.


      Last year the 34th Infantry welcomed home 2,600 soldiers from
the division's 1st Brigade Combat Team after a nearly two-year
deployment, much of it in Iraq.

Gallery

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Minnesota Guard's overseas duty not over

Around 800 Minnesota National Guard
soldiers will be leaving for Iraq this summer, the Guard announced Tuesday.

More than 800 Minn. Guard troops going to Iraq

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