N.D. Guard soldier preps for 5th deployment

[unhappycamper]

N.D. Guard soldier preps for 5th deployment
By Mike Nowatzki - The Forum via Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Feb 1, 2009 16:30:20 EST

VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Sgt. Jacob Bollinger joined the North Dakota Army National Guard as a junior in high school, thinking it would mean military drills on weekends.

Bollinger, 26, has now served two tours of duty in Iraq. A peacekeeping mission to Kosovo later this year will be his fifth active-duty deployment — the most of any North Dakota National Guard soldier since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Guard spokeswoman Amy Wieser Willson said.

“I thought I was going to school to become an electrical lineman and just drill (on weekends) and work for some tower company,” said Bollinger, an Edgeley native. “But stuff happens.”

Guard members have played a more active role in military operations since 9/11. As of early November, the North Dakota Guard had 19 soldiers who had deployed three times, Willson said.

Master Sgt. Kenneth Schuldheisz, who recruited Bollinger for his first tour in Iraq, said his case “is a little more outstanding than most.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_guardsoldier5thdeploy_020109/%2e