>>> Press release from the Office of the Governor of Alabama, 17 July 2002:

Office of the Governor

Don Siegelman
Governor

State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue, Room N-104
Montgomery, Alabama 36130

(334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 242-0937

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mike Kanarick
DATE: July 17, 2002
(334) 242-7150

Siegelman Announces Largest Mobilization of Alabama Army National Guard

Montgomery – Gov. Don Siegelman and Brig. Gen. Mike Sumrall today announced that more than 500 additional personnel from the Alabama Army National Guard have been ordered to active duty, the largest number of personnel mobilized at one time since the mobilizations began in late September.

“These brave men and women represent the best Alabama has to offer,” Siegelman said. “When our nation called upon them in the dark days following September 11th, they proudly answered that call. Again today, Alabama service members stand ready to defend freedom and liberty as they fight the war on terrorism.”

Approximately 300 personnel from the 1st Battalion 131st Armor (1/131) in southeast Alabama will mobilize. The 1/131 has its headquarters in Ozark and units in Abbeville, Ashford, Florala and Samson. The battalion is equipped with modern battle tanks, the M1-A1 Abrams. The 1/131 will serve in the homeland defense role within the United States.

Another 200 members of the 1st Battalion 20th Special Forces Group (1/20) from units in Huntsville and Auburn will join other Special Forces units that have already been called to active duty. The 1/131 and 1/20 units will conduct post-mobilization training and then deploy to undisclosed locations in support of the war on terrorism.

Siegelman serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Alabama National Guard by virtue of his elected office. Sumrall is Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard.

With approximately 15,500 citizens currently serving in the Army and Air National Guard, Alabama has the fourth largest National Guard force and the highest per capita number of Guard personnel in the United States. Since September 11th, approximately 2,000 National Guard personnel have been activated or deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

[see the original press release]
[read a news article about the mobilization]

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