Governor O'Malley Sends Off 224th Area Support Medical Company of the Maryland Army National Guard
Soldiers to Provide Medical Support in Iraq
LAUREL, Md. (March 24, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley joined federal, state and local officials today to send off members of the 224th Area Support Medical Company of the Maryland Army National Guard in a ceremony at the Private Henry Costin Armory in Laurel, Md. Approximately 60 Soldiers are mobilizing for deployment to Iraq.
“We are deeply indebted to these Citizen-Soldiers and their families for their sacrifices in the defense of our nation and state,” said Governor O’Malley. “They are well-trained, well-equipped, well-led, and I have every confidence in their ability to perform their mission.”
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The Soldiers will depart for Fort Lewis, Washington on Wednesday where they will receive additional training before deployment to Iraq. In Iraq, they will provide direct medical support. This includes retrieval and stabilization of the wounded, immediate triage care, and pass-on care to medical-surgical teams. They also will conduct basic dental, physiological, and psychological care.
“These Citizen-Soldiers epitomize the meaning of the words honor, duty, and selflessness,” said Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard. “It is their service and sacrifice that secures the liberty we hold so dear, and the debt we owe these Soldiers and their families can never be fully repaid.”
More than 1,100 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Maryland National Guard are currently serving on active duty in the Global War on Terror. Since 9/11 nearly 7,400 Soldiers and Airmen have been called to support Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, Jump Start and in the relief effort for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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