Politics & Government

Benjamin Lynch, of Brentwood, Deploys to Afghanistan

Lynch will go to Afghanistan in mid-August.

The Missouri National Guard reports that Pfc. Benjamin Lynch, of Brentwood, is one of 93 Missouri National Guard Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan with the 1138th Engineer Company.

From a press release from the Missouri National Guard:

The unit – which draws Soldiers from the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau – is part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and will be conducting route clearance missions.

Soldiers spent 29 days training at Camp Crowder and Camp Clark for pre-mobilization training that allowed them to learn necessary skills for deployment. Training conducted there included weapons qualifications, route clearance operations and tactics, battle drills and warrior tasks.

Currently, Soldiers are finalizing appropriate training for deployment at Fort Bliss, Texas, including squad and platoon battle drills and tasks while being in vehicles and environments similar to that in which they will encounter while deployed. After mobilization training, the Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in mid-August.

Lynch has been with the Missouri Army National Guard for two years and is a combat engineer. He deployed in 2011 is support of Operation Show-Me Rising Tide in southeast Missouri.

This is his first overseas deployment and he’s looking forward to the new experiences, said Lynch.

“I am proud of the work we will do in Afghanistan,” said Lynch. “We do what most people would never do. We put ourselves in danger to keep everyone safe.”

While deployed, the company will fall under the command and control of the 120th Engineer Battalion, Oklahoma National Guard. The Soldiers are scheduled to return in the spring of 2013.

Lynch is a graduate of Brentwood High School. He is supported in his military career by his parents Rich and Sue Lynch, of Brentwood.

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Michelle Queiser
Unit Public Affairs Representative - Missouri National Guard
2626 Independence St.
Cape Girardeau, MO  63701


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