Chip Rankin, the Litchfield wrestling coach who was deployed to Iraq last March with his National Guard unit and was set to end his tour of duty this March, has been told that he will stay in Iraq for an additional 125 days under President Bush's new deployment extension.
Rankin is a captain and company commander in the 2nd batallion, 136 infantry. President Bush's State of the Union address Jan. 10 outlined the plan to increase troop numbers by 21,500 soldiers. The increase included the 1st Brigade Contact Team, in which over 2,600 soldiers are from Minnesota.
"I will have to admit this is the toughest thing I have done in my life over here," said Rankin, via e-mail to the Tribune recently. "I am in command of an Infantry Company stationed in Fallujah, Iraq. We work for the Marine Corps and conduct full combat operations.
"Unfortunately, I have lost three of my soldiers; my brothers. It is a full-fledged war, no matter what the media would like to call it."
Rankin, who has been away from home since he went for training Oct. 3 at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, was among Guard troops last week who rescued three people during a raid on a "torture house" with blood-stained walls in Fallujah and captured several al-Qaida operatives and insurgents in the process.
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The Guard members found the three schackled Iraqis inside the house and also discovered other items used for torturing people.
"They looked like they hadn't eaten or had any water in a long time," Rankin told the Associated Press at the time. "There's no doubt we saved those three individuals' lives by getting there when we did."
The three reportedly were kidnapped officials in Fallujah who had supported the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.
"One victim had been burnt, cut and his kneecaps shattered. He was slipping into shock when we found him," Rankin told the AP. "One of the captives told us that he had been there for 14 days and had witnessed nine others being executed in this place."
Rankin, also a high school science teacher at Litchfield, has been keeping an eye on his wrestling team that is being coached now by former state champion Mike Fiedler of Sauk Centre. Rankin is expected to resume coaching duties next season.
Rankin, a Little Falls and University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate, led the Dragons to a Class AA state title in 2003 and a runner-up finish in 2002. He had amassed 105 wins in only five seasons.
Rankin was home for a brief break in early September, spending time with his wife, Rebecca, and their three-year-old son, Nathan.
"I see my beloved Dragons are going okay," he said. "I sure miss home. I would take an intense dual over this any day."
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-- The Association Press contributed to this article.
