Guardsmen preparing for Iraq deployment

AUGUSTA – Dozens of Maine soldiers got their financial, legal and medical matters in order over the weekend in preparation for their deployment to Iraq.

Up to 140 members of the Maine Army National Guard’s 152nd Maintenance Company will begin active duty Jan. 28 for an expected 18 months of service.

On Saturday and Sunday at Camp Keyes, they were photographed for identification cards and interviewed about finances and the pay they could expect. They updated their wills and learned about support that is available for the families they leave behind.

At the veterans hospital at Togus, they went through a similar process to update their medical records, immunizations and physical status.

First Sgt. Daniel Grenier of Winslow, the unit’s ranking noncommissioned officer, has been through it all before. He has been in the Guard for 31 years and served in South Korea for 15 months beginning in 1968.

“Everybody is still anxious about where we’re going to end up,” Grenier said as he looked down a hallway lined with seated soldiers.

Between 109 and 115 soldiers are expected to get the green light to go to Iraq, with the others remaining for family and other reasons. The ages of the 152nd members range from 19 to 58; 15 of them are women.