Ceremony for 158th sendoff next week

By Michael Butler

The Alabama National Guard's 158th Maintenance Company will soon be deployed for the Southwest U.S.

"They'll be gone for 12 months," said Sergeant First Class Joel Walker.

The 158th has been conducting drills in Tuskegee while renovations have been taking place at the R. Dewey Piper Armory in Tallassee. Drill weekends will move back to the city after the assignment near the Mexico border is complete.

125 service members will be recognized before their departure on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium.

"We're using the rec center that morning for family to go and see their family member off," Walker added. "We're the largest batallion in the state."

There are 147 service members in the 158th. Tallassee's 731st Maintenance Battalion has 67.