SALISBURY — More than 80 Salisbury-based N.C. National Guard members will deploy to Iraq after going on active duty this month, the military announced today.
Family and friends will say goodbye to the Company C, 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment members at a ceremony beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
The unit will spend time training at Fort Hood, Texas before deploying to Iraq, the National Guard said. In Iraq, the unit will fly its UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters as part of air assault and air movement operations in support of Operation New Dawn.
Company C previously served in Iraq from Oct. 31, 2004, to Jan. 12, 2006, when the mission was Operation Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-eight of its members have deployed at least once previously, and three have been called up two or more times.