Local Guardsman member of elite team

Soldier to train in Indiana, Poland before going to Afghanistan

BY BRIDGET FLYNN bflynn@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521

Created: Monday, January 28, 2013 1:15 a.m. CDT

Updated: Monday, January 28, 2013 2:59 p.m. CDT

AMBOY – National Guard 1st Sgt. Johnny O'Brien is destined to be a member of an elite team in Afghanistan for 6 months or more, but Saturday he was just a dad worried he'll miss his daughter.

O'Brien was the guest of honor at a deployment party at Wittenauer Used Farm Machinery. About 60 people crowded the small building to drink beer and wine, eat snacks, and send off O'Brien.

The party was "humbling," said O'Brien, 36, of Rockford, who graduated from Amboy High School in 1994.

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Local Guardsman member of elite team

Soldier to train in Indiana, Poland before going to Afghanistan

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