Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 21, 2011

Specialist Brian FOOKEN was recently deployed to Iraq as a member of a vertical unit. A vertical unit is carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical work.

FOOKEN is one of 85 members of the U.S. Army Reserves 389th Engineer Company of Middletown.

The army reservists said goodbye at a farewell ceremony over Easter weekend with family and friends in attendance. They headed to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin for one month where they made their final preparations for their more than one-year deployment.

FOOKEN has been in the reserves since 2005. He joined the Middletown unit in early 2010.

FOOKEN leaves behind a wife, Amber FOOKEN and two children, Trey, six, and Kenleigh, six months, of Mount Ayr.

FOOKEN has been able to keep in contact with his family through email, phone calls and a video streamline, Skype.

Letters, correspondences and packages can be sent to Spc. Brian FOOKEN, 567 (389th) EPBS/CT-5,Unit 43328, AP0 AE 09344-3328.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011