To honor the departing troops, a farewell ceremony has been planned for August 16. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., will be held at the Ford Center in the Bricktown district of Oklahoma City.
The Ford Center will open its doors to the public at 11 a.m. to allow adequate time for family members and the public to be seated. Once inside the Ford Center, signs will not be allowed due to safety and viewing concerns.
From 10 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Reno Avenue, between the Ford Center and the Cox Convention Center, will be closed and the only vehicles allowed on the street will be Oklahoma National Guard vehicles. Parking for the event will be on a first-come first-serve basis, as with any event in Bricktown.
On August 18, the brigade will move to Fort Hood, Texas, where they will spend 60 to 90 days training for convoy security missions, preparing the troops to defend the critical supply lines in and out of Iraq.
Looking forward to the challenges presented to his units, Col. Glen Moore, 45th FiB commander said, “This is our time to shine and I know we won’t disappoint. The Oklahoma Guard has a proud tradition of service to this country and we want to uphold that tradition.”
“By answering the nation’s call, we will make our mark on the Global War on Terror and add to that legacy for this century,” said Moore.
The Fires Brigade underwent several premobilization training exercises at Camp Gruber near Braggs, where Soldiers honed their individual skills such as marksmanship, combat lifesavers course and other common Soldier skills.
“The Soldiers of the 45th FiB have answered our nation’s call and we are trained and ready to conduct this mission,” said Moore, of Broken Arrow.
Moore said his Citizen-Soldiers are looking forward to continuing the legacy forged by the Thunderbirds who have gone before them.
As the 45th FiB prepares to deploy, more than 2,600 Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are winding down the largest single deployment of Oklahoma National Guard troops since the Korean War. The 45th IBCT, slated to return home later this year, is currently on a year-long deployment providing security at forward operating bases and internment facilities across Iraq. The majority of the brigade is working in the International Zone in Baghdad. Brig. Gen. Myles Deering, commander of the 45th IBCT, is serving as Joint Area Support Group-Central Commander.
Both the 45th FiB and 45th IBCT as well as Oklahoma’s 90th Troop Command trace their linage to the 45th Infantry Division which gained fame in World War II and Korea, including 511 combat days in World War II and 429 combat days in Korea.
Approximately 2,500 Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Operation Desert Storm, Oklahoma’s 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery provided responsive, accurate and devastating fire support, earning the moniker “Steel Rain” from the Iraqi Soldiers.
Units of the 45th IBCT deployed to the Sinai Peninsula and also to Afghanistan in 2003 and since September 11, 2001, more than 5,000 Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers and 4,000 members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard have been mobilized in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle.
The Oklahoma Army National Guard not only has a long history of overseas duty but also has participated in national defense and disaster relief. Oklahoma Guard troops were among the first responders to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995; they provided relief efforts after the May 3, 1999 tornado tore a path through central Oklahoma and the 45th IBCT team was the first fully operational brigade to arrive in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and lead the military presence in the city for several months.
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