50 Louisiana National Guard Soldiers Deploy To Afghanistan

PINEVILLE, La. (AP) — Fifty members of Louisiana's National Guard are being deployed to Afghanistan to provide air and medical evacuation support to troops on the ground.

News outlets report Gov. John Bel Edwards presided over a Friday ceremony in Pineville as soldiers from the 238th Aviation Regiment's 2nd Battalion prepared to ship out this week for a one-year deployment.

Outlets report this isn't the first deployment for some members, and two father-son teams and one married couple are among the group.

Jacob Caldwell told KATC it's both "strange and comforting" to be deploying with his father, Chief Warrant Officer Ricky Caldwell.

The outlet reports this is the battalion's third overseas deployment since September 11, 2001.