Tenn. Guardsmen To Be Honored After Border Incident


Last Edited: Sunday, 21 Jan 2007, 4:22 PM CST
Created: Sunday, 21 Jan 2007, 4:22 PM CST

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Nashville, Tenn. (WHBQ Wire Services) -- The Tennessee National Guard will honor four of its men for properly handling a tense situation while patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border earlier this month, a Guard spokesman said.

The troops were approached by a group of six to eight armed men while on patrol on Jan. 3 and withdrew without confrontation, according to a military report.

"The soldiers did exactly what their mission was, to pull back if they're approached by armed personnel coming across the border," Tennessee National Guard spokesman Randy Harris said Saturday.

One armed man with the unidentified group came as close as 10 meters, the report said.

"They were to pull back, contact the border patrol and the border patrol would come and make the needed apprehension or investigate the situation," Harris said. "The Tennessee National Guardsmen are not there as law enforcement."

The ceremony honoring the four Guardsmen is expected to take place later this week and Tennessee National Guard Adjutant Gen. Gus Hargett is likely to attend, Harris said. They will be presented with either an Army commendation or achievement medal.

About 250 guardsmen next month will begin the third deployment of Tennessee troops for President Bush's Operation Jump Start to reinforce U.S. Border Patrol agents.

About 180 Tennessee Guard soldiers are now stationed at the border after volunteering to stay there for between six months and a year.

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Information from: The Tennessean