By Alabama Public Radio
Gadsden, AL – Two more Alabama National Guard units have been called to active duty. The mobilization affects about 200 soldiers. Most of those are from the 258th Chemical Company that's based in Springville and Gadsden. About 75 soldiers are assigned to the 128th Medical Company based in Ashland. The Army says the 258th specializes in operating decontamination equipment. The 128th is an ambulance company. Both units will support operations in Iraq and will deploy within the next 60 days. Soldiers are expected to remain on active duty for up to 18 months. Alabama currently has about 14-hundred National Guard personnel serving in Iraq and about 150 soldiers supporting operations in Afghanistan.