News Article

By: BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
03-08-2005

Lt. Col. Frank McCauley, commander of the Kingsport-based 2nd Squadron of the Army National Guard’s 278th Regimental Combat Team, says things are going well in Iraq for the unit — which includes a number of Greene Countians.

“We are continuing our security operations on a daily basis developing actionable intelligence on suspected anti-Iraqi forces and on weapons caches,” Lt. Col. McCauley wrote in an electronic mail message. “We are also heavily involved in the training of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police. This aspect is really going well for us.”

He added, “Everyone is in good spirits and working together as a team.”

McCauley also noted in a message sent in response to an inquiry from a Greeneville Sun reporter that the 2nd Squadron recently had received additional equipment and personnel in the form of self-propelled (155 mm) howitzers (M109A6 Paladins).

He said that extends the unit’s ability “to utilize artillery delivered explosives and illumination.”

In addition, Lt. Col. McCauley noted, the 2nd Squadron of the 278th RCT also recently has received some “factory fresh” up-armored HUMVEEs (Jeep-like military vehicles).”

The so-called “up-armored” vehicles feature armor plating and bullet-proof glass that offers additional protection to their occupants from enemy fire.

“It’s always good to add new vehicles to our fleet,” he said.

McCauley, and the 2nd Squadron’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, are based at Forward Operating Base Bernstein in northern Iraq.

Among the citizen-soldiers assigned to the Headquarters Company are a number who formerly were members of the 278th’s Greeneville-based Troop G.

Story Copyright to Greeneville Sun