South Bend mayor leaves for Afghanistan deployment

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The mayor of South Bend is on his way to Afghanistan for a military deployment until the end of September.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (BOO’-tah-juhj) posted photos from an airport to his Facebook page, with the message “All right USA, I’m going to miss you but I’ll be back soon!”

The mayor’s office tells the South Bend Tribune and WNDU-TV that Buttigieg left Wednesday. The 32-year-old Democrat is a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve and will serve as an intelligence officer during his deployment.

Deputy Mayor Mark Neal has been filling in as the city’s leader since Buttigieg left for training a month ago.

Neal says Buttigieg told him he’s eager for his deployment but is looking forward to returning to South Bend.