Third Deployment Taxes Guard Families, Community Support

The largest deployment of the Evansville based 163rd Field Artillery of the Indiana National Guard is expected to get underway this December, with training taking place at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. About 340 soldiers from the local armory will join a force of about 3400 Hoosier "Citizen Soldiers". Members of the Jasper based 151st Infantry Regiment are also being mobilized. This is the third mobilization of the 163rd during operation Iraqi Freedom. On the home front, efforts are already underway to plan a memorable going away celebration for the soldiers. Newburgh insurance agent C. Larry Rhodes says he is working to restart a program called Operation Support on the Home Front. The program helps families of deployed troops make ends meet, giving them financial aid and support. "Its gonna be a strain on them financially," Rhodes said. Most of the guardsmen and women will take a pay cut during their deployment. That added stress can be very challenging for families. Rhodes said the Evansville community has been more than generous in the past, helping guard families in need while the soldiers were in Iraq. But the political climate in the US has changed since the last deployment in 2005. "I think most people understand the war is a political issue, supporting the troops is a humanitarian issue," Rhodes said. He believes there will be a strong turnout when it comes to assisting families, despite eroding support for the war in Iraq. Any help the community can give families would be a relief for soldiers in the field, says Iraq war veteran and 163rd member Ernie Griffin. "A lot of guys felt powerless because of what was going on back home." he said of his 2005 deployment. He says soldiers have to concentrate on the tasks at hand in a war zone, not the least of which is trying to stay alive. To make that job easier, he advises loved ones to, "do your best to keep the problems at home." Larry Rhodes hopes the people of the greater Evansville community step up during this coming deployment, to make it easier for those left behind to do just that.