70 Oregon Guard Citizen Soldiers to Demobilize on Saturday

Spc. Jaynie Cole will be awarded a Purple Heart during the Demobilization Ceremony.

Thr group returns home after spending a year among the people of Iraq Photo: Oregon National Guard

(CLACKAMAS) - More than 70 Oregon Army National Guard citizen-soldiers of the 3670th Maintenance Company will be demobilized after serving 12 months in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The official Demobilization Ceremony, signifying the completion of their tour of duty, will take place at the Camp Withycombe Armory, 10101 NE Clackamas Rd., in Clackamas on Saturday at noon.

Attending the ceremony to welcome these soldiers home will be, Governor Kulongoski, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, and Adjutant General, Major General Raymond Rees.

The 3670th Maintenance Company was mobilized in February 2005.

The unit supported six different bases during their 12 month deployment, repairing, re-building, up-armoring, and maintaining Army vehicles used in combat.

The unit also supported the infrastructure at each camp that they occupied by repairing generators and electrical wiring.

The unit faced small arms fire on January 20 when an attack was made on the city and camp of Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

The small arms attack on the maintenance position of the camp lasted more than one hour and resulted in thge deaths of five enemy soldiers.

Specialist Jaynie Cole and one other soldier were wounded during the attack but were treated and returned to duty.