For Immediate Release:
Thrusday, September 13, 2007 

BRAGGS, Okla. – U.S. Congressman Dan Boren today toured Camp Gruber near Braggs, Oklahoma. Boren visited with the 2,400 members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45^th Infantry Brigade getting set to deploy to Iraq early next year. Boren observed several training exercises and surprised military officials by striking 3 consecutive “bulls-eyes” with the M4 assault rifle while participating in target practice. He thanked the service members for their courage and sacrifice, and pledged to greet them all when they return.

 

“I want to thank each and every member of the 45^th, many of which are heading to Iraq for the first time. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the families of these brave men and women for their sacrifice during our Nation’s time of need. I share the same hope as every Guardsmen and family member of a soldier training here at Camp Gruber – that they all return safely to Oklahoma.

 

I know the Guard members will conduct their missions with the same diligence, honor, and courage that I have witnessed here at Camp Gruber today. I also want to commend the military commanders and trainers here for their outstanding effort to ready Oklahoma’s sons and daughters for the missions that await them.

 

As the largest deployment of the Oklahoma National Guard since the Korean War, these 2,400 young men and women have shown the most honorable commitment to our country that any citizen can make. I traveled here today to make certain they knew how proud I was of them, and that I would keep them in my thoughts and prayers. The Oklahomans represented in the 45^th join our State’s long and proud history of answering the call to service.”

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