Oklahoma National Guardmen training in Colorado

Thursday, October 23rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Some Oklahoma National Guardsmen are fulfilling their call to duty. About 400 soldiers from the 45th infantry are in Ft Carson, Colorado preparing for deployment to Afghanistan.

Right now they're learning and reviewing hand-to-hand combat skills. They'll also help train the Afghanistan Army. Hopper Smith, Oklahoma National Guard: "It is bitter sweet, I don't think anybody here wants to leave home and family, but we all want to serve our country and right now our country has said our duty is Afghanistan. We are very excited about that. We're very excited about carrying on the tradition of the 45th, which you know is, it's legendary."

These troops have been gone for about a month, they'll be deployed to Afghanistan by Thanksgiving.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson is there with them this week and he'll have more their training in a special report in November.