Deployment numbers surpass Gulf War

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ One-third of Oklahoma's Army National Guard has been activated to help fight the war on terrorism, surpassing the number mobilized for the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the state

Wednesday, March 5th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ One-third of Oklahoma's Army National Guard has been activated to help fight the war on terrorism, surpassing the number mobilized for the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the state Military Department says.

With the latest activations of nearly 720 civilian-soldiers Tuesday, about 3,000 members of the state Army National Guard have been called to active duty in support of anti-terrorist operations domestically and abroad and as part of the military buildup for a possible war against Iraq.

They could remain on active duty for one to two years, the Military Department said.

An additional 940 troops from the Oklahoma Army National Guard have been sent to Bosnia, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in support of pre-existing peacekeeping missions.

During the Persian Gulf War, about 2,500 Oklahoma Army Guard members were mobilized. In total, the state Army Guard has about 7,500 members.

The current mobilization ``is the largest call-up of Oklahoma Army National Guard civilian-soldiers since the Korean War when the 45th Infantry Division was mobilized,'' said Col. Pat Scully, chief spokesman for the Military Department.

An Air Force Reserve unit from the Tinker Air Force Base was also part of the Tuesday's deployment.

About 230 reservists from the 507th Air Refueling Wing were deployed for the first time.

The number will only grow as tensions with Iraq increase, the colonel said.

Despite the drain on the manpower, the colonel said the Army Guard still has the numbers to react to state emergencies if called by Gov. Brad Henry.

``There could be shortfalls, but we don't know of any,'' the colonel said.

With 5,000 Army National Guard members still not on active duty status, he said, ``We are ready to answer to the governor to be a part of any emergency that we need to be a part of.''

Scully said Army Guard members over the years have been called for national disasters such as tornadoes, floods and other civil emergencies, including a riot at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester.

Oklahoma Guard members also have gone out of state to assist in Texas in the search for debris from the Columbia space shuttle.