At 19, Amanda Nelson should be going to the beach and preparing for college in the fall. Instead, she left for Iraq last Friday to fight with Rhode Island’s 169th Military Police Brigade, based in Warren. The youngest female in the brigade, she’s thrilled to go.

"I’m excited," she said. "No, no. I’m ecstatic."

She may not be nervous, but parents James and Wendy Nelson are definitely feeling the heartache of losing a daughter for one year.

"It’s hard to say how I’m feeling," said Mrs. Nelson. "She’s so smart, never complains and is so selfless. She’s got great support. They instruct her well. She’s here to represent all of us."

Amanda, from North Kingstown, left last Friday, July 6, with more than 100 men and women from all over New England serving in R.I.’s 169th MP (military police) Brigade. Some are on their first deployment while others are on their second, third and even fourth deployments overseas. …..more