Reservist activated for deployment

Marlborough - Army Reserve Maj. Richard K. McGowan has been mobilized and activated for a future deployment to an undisclosed overseas location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

McGowan is a civil aff airs specialist normally assigned to the 443rd Civil Aff airs Battalion, Warwick, R.I.

He is the son of Joyce K. McGowan of Chestnut St., Ramsey, N.J.

His wife, Sharon, is the daughter of Donna Comeau of Hunter Ave., Marlborough.

Operation Iraqi Freedom mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.