Army Sgt. Ranard Stewart has deployed to Iraq to support the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. Armed Forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq.

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 people 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.

Stewart is normally assigned to the 15th Transportation Company, Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

He has more than seven years of military service. He is the son of Willie P. Stewart and nephew of Arlean Stewart of Peoria Road, Liberty.

His wife, Stacey, is the daughter of James and Joyce Barton of 24th Street, McComb. The sergeant is a 2001 graduate of Amite County High School, Liberty.