KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The National Guard includes a majority of men and women in its ranks who also have civilian day jobs. They are bankers, mechanics and first responders.
During the 2004-2005 combat deployment to Iraq, they faced a dual mission of warfighting and nation-building. Terry "Max" Haston, a retired major general of the Tennessee National Guard, noted up to 75% of all forces during that combat deployment in Iraq were Guard members.
"It was a very chaotic time," said Haston who went on to serve as the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard overseeing more than 10,000 soldiers and airmen.
For decades, the National Guard has responded to emergencies stateside including border protection, flooding and wildfires.
20 years ago those volunteers answered the call for a war overseas and our cameras followed them into combat. It marked the largest call-up for National Guard troops since World War II.
WBIR-TV is launching a special series of reports focused on two guard units, Tennessee and Oregon, which are symbolic of the burden placed on similar units around the country.