Nathyn Thompson Nathyn Thompson, a 2008 LaSalle High School graduate, will soon be shipping out to Iraq with about 70 other National Guard members. The only member of his company from St. Ignace to go, Specialist Thompson and the other guard members traveled to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Friday, November 20, to begin training, following a deployment ceremony and community send off reception at Sault Area High School at Sault Ste. Marie. His family attended the community gathering for the unit Thursday night, November 19. In Sault Ste. Marie Friday, crowds lined the streets to watch the soldiers leave town.

After the training, the soldiers will be deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Thompson is assigned to the 1437th Engineer Company and will work to build and maintain bridges in Iraq. While he could have also been a member of the military police, Spc. Thompson decided to join the engineer company.

Above: Nathyn Thompson (center) embraces his stepmother, Janice Morin, and his father, Tim Thompson, alongside his mother, Kim North (far left), at the 1437th Engineer Platoon deployment ceremony in Sault Ste. Marie Thursday, November 19. Spc. Thompson is a 2008 LaSalle High School graduate and the only one in his platoon shipping to Iraq from St. Ignace. (North family photograph) Spc. Thompson said he always wanted to join the service, and agreed to when a recruiter visited during his junior year of high school. He has served in the National Guard for more than a year and wants to earn a degree in psychology. His goal is to work in the military for 20 years.

While he is excited about his deployment, he is also concerned about his family worrying about him, he said. Several friends will be in his company in Iraq, making the trip a little easier.

"We're all one big family, and that makes it so much better," he said.

About 70 National Guard members of the 1437th Engineer Company stand before a crowd in the Sault Area High School Thursday, November 19, during a community send-off for the company. The platoon will build and maintain bridges in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (North family photograph) Spc. Thompson is the son of Jim and Kim North, Tim Thompson, and Janice Morin. He has three brothers, five-year-old Ely North, 17-year-old Ryan Thompson, and 20-year-old Tanner North.