Forty-five members of the U.S. Army Reserve 678th Adjutant General Postal Unit in Sheffield are in California finishing combat training for deployment to Iraq.
"The Seventh Platoon and Eighth Platoon have gotten their deployment orders and will be leaving within the next few weeks," said Sgt. Greg Smith, of the 678th Adjutant General Postal Unit.
Smith said one platoon will leave May 30, with the second platoon leaving in mid-June.
He said the entire unit is in California for their final training. When it is complete, they will return to Sheffield briefly before leaving the United States. He said the final destination for the platoons won't be known until they arrive in Iraq.
The locally based postal unit has a history of deployments, not just to Iraq, but Afghanistan as well, Smith said. It will be the first time since 2007 that the unit has been activated.
"We have a lot of younger people in the unit, and I'd say for about half of the soldiers this will be their first deployment," Smith said.
Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford said the deployment brings the war on terrorism close to home.
"I certainly admire and appreciate the job they do, leaving their families to go and serve their country," Sanford said. "And when it's members of the local unit, it hits close to home."
The unit's deployment is scheduled for one year.
"Once in the country, the soldiers will be sorting and delivering mail to the postal clerks, and will also be accepting outgoing mail from the soldiers," Smith said. "In essence, we will be operating a post office."
Sanford said the unit plays an important role in the war.
"I have the utmost respect for them and the job they are doing, keeping communications open for soldiers and their families at home," Sanford said.
He said members of the unit take their job seriously and understand the importance of their duties.
"All soldiers are really excited about getting mail from home. For some, this is their only connection to home," Smith said.
Smith said he has seen how a package or letter from home can make a soldier's day.
"Speaking for myself, this is a very important job that we do, and we take pride in doing a good job and bringing the soldiers news from home," Smith said.
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Be safe guys. I know some of the members of this unit personally. I remember when it was the 336th AG Postal Co. This company was in Desert Storm, it has seen Bosnia, Afghan, Iraq, Kuwait, Panama, Germany, and Kosovo. Members from this unit are deployed just about every year throughout the world. If any member of this unit is here please pm me I would like to know if some people are still in this unit. Come home safe!!!
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