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Good To Know: Pride In Hearts Of Minn. Troops

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Nov 9, 2009 10:37 pm US/Central

Good To Know: Pride In Hearts Of Minn. Troops

Reporting
Don Shelby
(WCCO) Don Shelby has just gotten back from Iraq, where he and photographer Tom Aviles were covering the Minnesota National Guard's 34th 'Red Bulls' Infantry Division. Don said it would be good to know the good our Minnesota citizen soldiers are doing there.

They are fighting a battle for the hearts of Iraqis. These Minnesotans, from the top brass down to the lowest enlisted grades seem perfect for the job, and I think the Pentagon recognized that fact, recognized it before I did.

That's why a National Guard Division is in charge of all forces, active, reserve and guard in the southern half of that country. I went to Iraq with an attitude that it was wrong to force civilian soldiers from their communities and families to do this kind of work, but I was wrong about that.

We can obviously do it less often, but we cannot do better than deploying the vast civilian experience of these Minnesotans to bring the fight for the heart. The people of southern Iraq, especially the children, will never forget what a bunch of Minnesotans have been doing to rebuild their country and their spirits.

And, as one Iraqi told me, the children can never hate Americans again. Minnesotans have done that.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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