Allen presented flag for being youngest member of deploying unit Published Jan. 14, 2008 By Mrs. Regina Turner 1 - 135th Aviation Battalion SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- One of the long-standing traditions of the Missouri National Guard is the presentation of a Missouri state flag to the youngest member of a deploying unit. Spc. William Allen, 21, of Lathrop, received the Missouri flag at the Afghanistan Agribusiness Development Team's Deployment Ceremony on Jan. 5.The flag will be flown during the deployment and returned upon the unit's deactivation. "The Afghanistan Agribusiness Development Team will be working to identify Afghan solutions to Afghan problems," said Capt. Doug Dunlap, executive officer of the team. The team will be working to improve irrigation systems and providing techniques for fertilizing, reconstitution, planting, harvesting, marketing and storage of agriculture crops. Allen and team members will be deployed for approximately one year to Nangarhar Province in Eastern Afghanistan. Allen will serve in a security role. "I'm excited about the opportunity to serve," said Allen. "As the youngest, I have already learned a lot from the training and expect to learn a lot more from this deployment." Allen is a 2005 graduate of Lathrop High School. He joined the Guard in March 2004. He serves as an AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer with 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation, located at Whiteman Air Force Base. As a civilian, he works as a pipe liner for Barber Sewer and Ditching, located in Liberty. He is the son of Brian and Pam Barber, of Lathrop. He is the grandson of Dave and Anna Wekamp, of Springfield.