Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

Army Spc. Brad Kilburn deployed with the largest Indiana National Guardsmen since World War II on January 2. He is currently training in Fort Stewart, GA, for departure to Iraq in early March, according to his family. He will be stationed in Iraq 12-18 months, leaving behind his one-year-old daughter, Olivia.

Spc. Kilburn, 22, is a 2004 graduate of Milan High School and the son of Dean and Cheryl Kilburn of Dillsboro.

The guardsman graduated from basic training and A.I.T. at Fort Benning, GA, in November of 2005. He received training for basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics. He also experienced using various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.

Spc. Brad Kilburn