Watch CBS News

Chicago National Guard Unit Headed For Medical Mission In Kuwait

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Family and friends gathered in a hangar at Midway International Airport on Thursday to send off members of an Illinois National Guard unit headed to Kuwait on a medical mission.

It is the first deployment for 25 soldiers with the 2nd Battalion of the the 135th Aviation Regiment in Chicago. The unit was formed two years ago, and is led by Capt. Amanda Lempke, a registered nurse from Bloomington.

"Our mission is we provide air medical evacuations, so we're basically providing urgent medical care to those troops that are wounded," Lempke said.

The unit's two Black Hawk helicopters served as the backdrop for a deployment ceremony at Midway on Thursday. The team of pilots, medics, mechanics, and others was headed for a 400-day mission to Kuwait, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – the official name for the war on terrorism.

The unit was formed two years ago, and has been training at Fort Hood, Texas, since getting their deployment orders about a year ago.

"I'm extremely excited. I'm a registered nurse civilian-side, and so when they said in 2013, 'Hey, this medevac unit is going to stand up,' I said 'Hey, I'll go be the commander if you'll have me,'" Lempke said. "I'm so excited that this deployment came about, because we really are new, and we really want to get experience, and really perform this mission."

Podcast

Lempke's husband also has served overseas.

"I think he's excited. He has deployed prior, and then I stayed at home, and now we're kind of switching roles, so it's interesting to see him tell me 'Oh, you know, now I know what it was like for you.' So I really appreciate that," she said. "It's actually been really great for us, as a married couple."

She said she'll really miss her dogs while she's gone.

"I hope they recognize me when I get back," she said.

The Woods family from Chicago came to send off Spc. Vance Woods, a medic with the unit.

"I'm very proud of him, that's number one, and the thoughts are just go over there and help out the best he can. That's all I wish and hope for; that he makes it over there safely, and comes back safely, and try to help and save as many lives as he's able to," said his father, Vance Woods Sr.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.