Utahns in Iraq decline to 1,454

For the past two weeks, fewer than 1,500 of Utah's Reservists and National Guard members remain on active duty. It's the first time the number has been this low since the American military buildup began in anticipation of war with Iraq.

Altogether, 1,454 Utahns are enumerated in a Defense Department report, issued Wednesday, of otherwise part-time units that are now mobilized. More than half of them are members of the Utah Army National Guard, which has roughly 780 deployed.

Army Guard members are split about evenly between duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Major Lorraine Januzelli, spokeswoman for the Utah National Guard. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the group has deployed 3,400 members, including members who have returned to civilian life.

Speaking of troops who have returned, she said, "I think people have settled in pretty well. People are back to work, they're back to school, they're getting their lives back to order. It takes a long time."

One of the advantages of deployment is that the returnee really appreciates the family left at home, she said. Also, "they have a stronger bond with the soldiers they deployed with."

Januzelli concluded, "They did their share, and they can feel proud about what they've done."

Besides the Army Guard soldiers, also called up to active duty are members of the Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Naval Reserve.

Two Marine companies from Utah are listed in the official accounting of mobilized units released on Wednesday. But the list does not break down state totals for Marine Reservists, and a Marine official in this state said he is not aware of any Utah Marine Reservists who are on active duty today.

The number slipped under 1,500 in last week's compilation of national statistics. The Sept. 15 list cited 1,452 Utahns who had been called up, two fewer than the latest account.

The mobilization was rolling in January 2003 when Utahns called up for active service reached about 1,300. By early February, that figure had jumped to 2,128, and it reached 3,000 by the middle of that month.

When war began on March 19, 2003, the figure was close to 4,000. It crossed that level in April as the battles continued. In October 2003, with Iraq occupied by U.S. troops, mobilization numbers for Utah dipped below 3,000.

Fewer than 2,500 National Guard and Reserve members from Utah were on active duty this past January, but as suicide bombings, ambushes and improvised explosive devices took an increasing toll, the number of Americans in Iraq bumped upward again.

Utah's figures went to more than 3,000 in late January and stayed there through March. They began a slow, steady dip in April, resulting in this week's total of 1,454.

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