170 Virginia National Guard soldiers to leave for Iraq

The Virginia National Guard will bid farewell Tuesday to the 170 soldiers of its 1710th Transportation Company, which is being called up for duty in Iraq.

The departure ceremony will be at 4:45 p.m. at Greensville Elementary School in Emporia.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is scheduled to take part in the farewell, as are Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr., Virginia’s adjutant general, and other state and local officials.

After the ceremony, the Army National Guard soldiers will travel to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for six weeks’ training before deploying to Iraq.

The 1710th has elements based in Emporia and Richmond. Detachment 2 of the 1173rd Transportation Company from Onancock also will deploy as part of the 1710th.

In Iraq, the tractor-trailer truck unit will haul supplies from logistical support areas to forward operating bases.