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Indiana National Guard unit heading to Afghanistan

FRANKLIN, Ind. - About 150 members of an Indiana National Guard unit are heading to Afghanistan to help close and tear down military bases that are no longer needed as U.S. troops withdraw from the country.

More than 1,000 family members and friends attended a deployment ceremony Sunday at Franklin College for the 1413th Engineer Co. The Franklin-based unit includes plumbers, electricians, carpenters and masons who will be on the nearly yearlong assignment.

Martha Lasher of Brownstown tells the Daily Journal she's proud of her husband, James, going on his first deployment but that people would think she's crazy if she wasn't nervous to see him go.

Sgt. Caleb Poynter tells WISH-TV it will be tough being away from his twin 15-month-old daughters, although he's looking forward to accomplishing his unit's mission.

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