278th prepares for 2010 Iraq deployment

Updated: 3:54 AM Nov 5, 2009

Knoxville's 278th Armored Cavalry regiment will deploy to Camp Shelby, Miss., in early December, then they will be sent to Iraq for a one-year deployment, according to Randy Harris with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Posted: 3:26 PM Nov 4, 2009
Reporter: Michael Grider/Mike McCarthy
Email Address: michael.grider@wvlt-tv.com, mike.mccarthy@wvlt-tv.com

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Knoxville-based 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment will leave next month for training, then deploy to Iraq in February 2010.

More than 3,300 soldiers are schedule to move to Camp Shelby, Miss., in early December for two months before heading overseas, state officials said Wednesday.

Several hundred of the unit's soldiers live in the Knoxville-area.

This will be the second Iraq deployment for the 278th.

The 278th is the largest combat unit in the Tennessee Army National Guard, consisting of about 3,800 troops, according to Col. Jeff Holmes.

"At least half of soldiers have deployed before, either to Iraq or Afghanistan," Holmes said.

But the wife 1st Sgt. Mike Miller says that doesn't make preparing to say goodbye any easier.

"I just know he's doing what he's got to do, and I'm doing what I've got to do," Kim Miller said. "I don't think so much about him going over as much as me getting through the next year."

For the Miller Family, it's times around the dinner table, sharing smiles and times together, that matter most.

"You certainly cherish it more," 1st Sgt. Mike Miller said. "You build on those memories and take with you."

Soldiers were given their mobilization orders in July 2009, but they've known a deployment could be coming for even longer.

"We were notified back in 2008 of a possible deployment," Holmes said.

The unit has trained heavily for the deployment since March and will serve on security force missions, according Holmes.

"It will mean route security, protecting coalition assets, personnel, movement of materials and personnel along major routes," Holmes said.

This deployment marks Miller's second tour in Iraq.

"There's a part of you that gets scared that there's certain things that could happen. The unit lost several people in the last 278th last deployment," Kim Miller said

But the Miller family doesn't focus on that.

Instead, for now, 1st Sgt. Miller wants to make the most of serving as a dad, hoping that make serving as soldier a little easier.

"You have to be focused on what you're doing [in Iraq]. But there's always the times in the evenings, or when you have some down time, when your thoughts go back to those memories," Mike Miller said.

The 278th just finished more than three weeks of annual training at Camp Shelby.

Plans call for the unit to deploy with other Army National Guard units from Kentucky and Michigan.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Knoxville's 278th Armored Cavalry regiment will deploy to Camp Shelby, Miss., in early December, then they will be sent to Iraq for a one-year deployment, according to Randy Harris with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

The troops will head to Mississippi on or around Dec. 5, Harris says, where they'll train for about two months, before heading overseas in February 2010.

This will be the second Iraq deployment for the 278th.

The 278th is the largest combat unit in the Tennessee Army National Guard, consisting of about 3,300 troops.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Betty June Location: Knoxville on Dec 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM

If someone that should not be in the National Guard goes over to those countries and if he makes it back here in Dec.2010, then I will probably NOT be at home, because I may be out of town doing USO or Coast Guard duties, which are very important to me. Don't know when I'll be home myself. So I guess he'll have to find his own way back home. He doesn't understand my point of view or my reasoning.

Posted by: Joe Pence Location: Knoxville on Nov 4, 2009 at 03:46 PM

hope for all troops to stay safe and come home soom.

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