Sun Photo by Jody Snyder: Five local National Guardsmen assigned to the 278th
Armored Cavalry Regiment were honored by a Greeneville Cub Scout troop on
Thursday evening at the First resbyterian Church. In the photo above, Greeneville
Mayor Darrell Bryan (standing at lectern in the background) thanks (from left)
Staff Sgt. Ronald Neas, Sgt. Charles McLain, Staff Sgt. Robert Farrington,
Spc. Jason Snyder and Sgt. Tony Bowman. To the right of the soldiers are (from left)
Cub Scouts Derek Jeffers, Alex Miller, Daniel Tweed, Corbin Neas and Wilton
Chapman. In the background of the photo (to the left of Mayor Bryan) is Cub
Scout Leader Eugene Jeffers. To the right of Mayor Bryan in the background
of the photo are Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and state Rep.
David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville.

By: BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
11-08-2004

A Greeneville Cub Scout pack on Thursday afternoon presented "care packages" to five local National Guardsmen from a unit that is scheduled to leave for duty in Iraq by month’s end.

The presentation came during a 5 p.m. meeting of the Wolf Den of Cub Scout Pack 371 at the First Presbyterian Church on North Main Street, which sponsors the scout unit.

During the meeting, Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan, Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and state Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, all spoke briefly, offering thanks for the soldiers’ sacrifice and giving their best wishes to Staff Sgt. Ronald Neas, Staff Sgt. Robert Farrington, Sgt. Charles McLain, Sgt. Tony Bowman and Spc. Jason Snyder.

Cub Scouts Derek Jeffers, Wilton Chapman, Daniel Tweed, Corbin Neas and Alex Miller made the presentations with assistance from Wolf Den Leader Eugene Jeffers, who also acted as master of ceremonies for the event.

Cub Scout Corbin Neas, his den leader said, is the grandson of Staff Sgt. Neas, who fell ill during the ceremonies and was taken from the church by Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.

He was conscious and alert when taken from the church by EMS personnel.

His fellow soldiers said Neas had been on emergency leave, having recently lost two members of his family.

Jeffers said the Cub Scouts had chosen to put together care packages of toiletries and other items for the Greeneville National Guardsmen as a service project.

He said he had known Sgt. Bowman for some time and had had a conversation with Bowman last spring in which he asked Bowman what he could do to help after local National Guardsmen learned that they were being called to active duty.

Won’t Be Forgotten

"He said there is one thing that he hoped wouldn't happen," Jeffers said of Bowman. "He said he didn't want his friends and the community to forget about him."

Jeffers said the Wolf Den of Cub Scout Pack 371 had taken up the challenge of making sure that the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment soldiers will not be forgotten. "Tony, you guys are not going to be forgotten because of kids like these," Jeffers said.

The Cub Scout leader said the five care packages presented on Thursday afternoon had been put together as a token of appreciation for the soldiers’ sacrifice on the community’s behalf.

"If you look at the boxes and what’s inside, there’s not a lot of things of monetary value there," Jeffers said. "But what is in there is a lot of love. We want you guys to take these boxes and realize that there are some people who are thinking about you back in Greeneville."

Jeffers told the soldiers that inside each care package box was a letter with his (Jeffers’) electronic mail address.

"We want to make sure that you contact me (from Iraq), and I'll make sure that they (the Cub Scouts) contact you back," Jeffers told the soldiers.

He then read the letter. "On behalf of Cub Scout Wolf Den of Pack 371 of Greeneville, Tenn., we thank you for your service and dedication to keeping America safe and free," he read. "It's because of your bravery and commitment to the armed forces to protect the citizens of the United States that we have the freedom to live as we do.

"Your dedication and hard work can't be measured. And just a 'thank you' seems too small. Accept these care packages from our Scouts as a small part of our thanks. The value of the contents of these boxes is small. But the love that put them together is great."

Jeffers said the Cub Scout group could not present a care package box to all members of the soldiers’ unit.

"But we want you to take the love and the thoughts that put them together and take them back to your fellow troops and tell them how much we appreciate them," he said.

Jeffers said the boxes also contained small pewter coins that carried the phrase "Thinking of you while you're away. For your safe return I pray."

Den Leader Jeffers also introduced the five soldiers individually to the audience of about 25 people who attended the ceremony.

"Guys, I appreciate you being here this evening," Jeffers told the National Guardsmen. "We appreciate what you're doing for America."

Elected Officials Speak

He then introduced Mayors Bryan and Jones and state Rep. Hawk and asked if they wished to make remarks.

"We certainly appreciate what you gentlemen are doing for our county and for our town," Mayor Bryan said.

"We encourage your families to let us know if there is anything we can do for them as the Town of Greeneville. Be assured that the people of Greeneville appreciate your efforts and your sacrifice. We're going to be praying for you, and wish you the very best."

Mayor Jones told the soldiers, several of whom wore desert camouflage uniforms, that he echoed Mayor Bryan's sentiments.

"On behalf of Greene County, I appreciate your sacrifice and volunteerism," he added. "Young men of the Cub Scouts, this is what life is all about. It's about volunteering and doing things for others.

"These gentlemen will be going across the ocean to try to show the people of Iraq what freedom is all about. We appreciate them very much."

Rep. David Hawk admonished the Cub Scouts to "take a good look" at the five National Guardsmen.

"In a world where it is hard to find role models sometimes, these five guys are definitely the best role models you could have," Hawk said of the soldiers.

"Guys, we will be thinking about you and praying for you. Know that you will not be forgotten. You will always be in our minds, always be in our hearts, and always be in our thoughts. Thank you for what you do for us here in Greene County and for your country."

Ralph Hinkle, a member of the Heartland Free Methodist Church, closed the ceremonies with a prayer.

All five of the citizen-soldiers who took part in the Thursday afternoon Cub Scout program, according to Staff Sgt. Farrington, were members of Greeneville-based Troop G of the Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) before the regiment was called to active duty in June.

Since the regiment moved to Camp Shelby, Miss., for training on Father's Day, the five soldiers, along with many of their fellow former Troop G comrades, have been assigned to the Kingsport-based Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT) of the 278th ACR.

Other Troop G soldiers now are assigned to the 278th’s Erwin-based tank company.

The 278th, now augmented by National Guardsmen from several other states, has been renamed the 278th Regimental Combat Team (RCT).

Currently on a 10-day leave, the 278th RCT soldiers are scheduled to return to Camp Shelby, Miss., on Nov. 9 and to take part in a massive "departure ceremony" there on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11.

The 278th soldiers are expected to begin moving to Kuwait (and subsequently Iraq) before the end of the month, family members say.

Story Copyright to Greeneville Sun