Fort Benning soldiers from 690th Medical Company deploy for Iraq

Sixty two soldiers assigned to the 690th Medical Company said goodbye to family and friends Friday before leaving Fort Benning for a year-long deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 690th, a ground ambulance company, is an element of the 14th Combat Support Hospital.

Four soldiers were also promoted during the gathering. Two soldiers were promoted to the rank of specialist and two promoted to Sergeant.

The soldiers are scheduled to depart from Lawson Army Airfield today en route first to Kuwait, where they will remain from 7-10 days prior to "crossing the berm" into Iraq.

This story was originally published January 2, 2009 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Fort Benning soldiers from 690th Medical Company deploy for Iraq."