By Alabama Public Radio
Undated, AL – Several hundred Alabama soldiers will be leaving this weekend for duty in Iraq. 125 soldiers with the Andalusia-based 117th Field Artillery Regiment will leave Saturday. They'll travel to Mississippi before shipping out overseas. The 117th will provide security for military bases and convoys. There will be a 10 a-m departure ceremony at the Kiwanis Community Center in Andalusia. On Sunday, 86 soldiers with the Huntsville-based 11-69th Engineer Group will take part in a 3 p-m ceremony at the Huntsville High School auditorium. The 11-69th will provide command and control assistance to other engineer units. The First Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment from Hope Hull will participate in a departure ceremony Sunday in Texas. The unit's 300 soldiers are in that state for additional training.