Area guardsmen leave for southwest Asia

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 2/6/03

Three Army National Guard soldiers from the Milaca area were called to duty last week.

Tom Anderson, 22, Adam Ringham, 20, and Jon Swedin, 24, of the 142nd Engineer Battalion, C Company, left Camp Ripley in Little Falls for Fort Carson, Colo. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

At this time, the three will be deployed to somewhere in southwest Asia. Rumors are Turkey or Kuwait, but officially there has been no word yet.

When they leave is another question. It could be as soon as this week. The men have been told only that they will be at Ft. Carson for up to 45 days.

The three men in the engineering battalion, and the other 142 who joined them, will be doing mostly heavy construction - building roads, bridges and airstrips.

It has been reported by the families of the three guardsmen, that a young woman has been called to duty as well, however, the Times has been unable to locate her family.

Jennifer Finnegan, a 2001 graduate of Milaca High School, also left last Wednesday with the Roseville-based 798th Transportation Detachment. Finnegan and six others in her unit were deployed to Fort McCoy, Wis.

And Colonel Jerry Lang, of Milaca, departed for Bosnia on Monday, Feb. 3 for reconnaissance work. He will be returning in two weeks.

Tom Anderson

Tom, 22, is the son of Greg and Linda Anderson.

In high school, Tom was active in basketball, football and baseball.

He graduated from Milaca High School in 2000 and joined the National Guard that summer, signing up for six years.

Following high school, Tom went to Northwest Technical College in Wadena where he received an associates degree in digital communications.

Tom is employed by Frontier Communications and was working in the Milaca area until recently when he was transferred to Chisago Lakes.

Tom said both his landlord and his boss were very helpful and cooperative in his sudden departure.

Federal law requires employers to allow their employees involved in voluntary military service to leave their civilian jobs to serve their country and to have their jobs waiting for them when they return.

Tom said Frontier went beyond that, even though he just finished his six month probation period with the company, by offering to pay the difference between his military salary and his regular salary from the telephone company.

Tom said his good-byes to his family, which includes two younger sisters, the Sunday before he departed.

Greg said that Tom looks to his duty as an adventure, but also realizes that itís his job to do and he plans to do it well.

Tom was lucky enough to travel to Colorado in a C-130 cargo plane, but said four companies in his battalion had to travel in convoy style for two days.

Since arriving at Ft. Carson, Tom said heís been doing a lot of waiting in lines. Waiting for buses to take him to the showers, waiting for food and waiting for vaccinations.

The living quarters are cramped, according to Tom. The soldiers are sleeping in a big bay with cots.

"Weíre stacked like sardines," Tom said of his temporary home.

Approximately 600 soldiers are at Ft. Carson and Tom said, "I donít know if they were ready for us."

He has attended mobilization meetings regarding diseases and vaccinations. The vaccinations heís received already have included everything from a series of six shots for anthrax, to small pox, to yellow fever.

Tom said heís taking everything as it comes and added, "I think weíre out there for the right cause."

Adam Ringham

Adam, 20 is the son of Marty and Teri Ringham.

He graduated from Milaca High School in 2000 and joined the guard that summer following graduation.

In school, Adam was active in choir and weight lifting. He enjoys windsurfing and sailing with his dad.

Adam is attending the University of Minnesota - Duluth and is also taking classes at Lake Community College in Duluth.

Before being deployed last week, on Saturday, Jan. 25, Adam was promoted to specialist.

His parents attended the departure ceremony at Camp Ripley last week.

"As a parent, itís real mixed feelings," said Teri. "You canít imagine not seeing your child for a year. We knew it could happen of course, but we sure didnít think it would be southwest Asia. With the guards, we figured heíd be stateside."

Teri spoke with Adam last Thursday night after he arrived in Colorado and he also told her they were living in tight quarters in what is basically a heated garage.

Marty said Adam was apprehensive at first, but excited about the opportunity to see more of the world.

Adam told Marty, "I signed up saying Iíll do this. Itís time. Iím a patriotic young man. Iím going to do my best."

Marty admits, Adamís disposition is better than mom and dadís.

Jon Swedin

Jon, turned 24 last Friday - two days after he arrived at Ft. Carson.

He is the son of Linda Skinner and Mike Swedin and is a 1997 graduate of MHS.

Jon was 17 years old when he joined the Army National Guard, but didnít go to training until after he graduated and turned 18. He signed up for six and a half years.

In high school, Jon participated in drama and baseball and worked at Olsons SuperValu.

He went for basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. And was currently working at Grede Foundries in St. Cloud, while attending St. Cloud State University.

Jon has been married to Jessica for three months. The couple resides in Otsego.

Jonís time with the guard is supposed to end July 28. Itís unclear if he will be released from duty at that time.

Mike Swedin said, "You knew it could happen, but didnít think it would. And we didnít think it would happen quite this fast."

Jon was notified on Martin Luther King Day that he was being called to duty. He was placed on active duty four days later and flew to Colorado five days after that.

Mike said of the departure ceremony at Camp Ripley, which included comments from Governor Tim Pawlenty, "It was a very moving day and they had a very nice ceremony for us."

Major General Eugene Andreotti spoke to the soldiers and U.S. senators Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton also phoned in comments to the servicemen and women.

"We have a lot of freedom because of what theyíve done over the years," Linda said of military personnel.

But the sentiment most are feeling was said by Linda: "I hope they come home soon and safely."