News Article
(clockwise from left) Yellow ribbons and flags that
were hung by family and friends around the armory; Sgt.
Tim Sather says good bye to his family; Pfc. Jonathan
Harrison spends time with his wife and mother.
Photos by Curt Habraken
By: GREG WILKERSON, Staff Writer
June 27, 2004
The Mountain Press
There were some smiles and laughter - but mostly tears - as 69 members of the 2/278th Armored Cavalry Regiment climbed aboard two chartered buses bound for training in Mississippi before an expected deployment to Iraq.
They left behind families, friends and a caring community, and some, like Spc. Tim Cogar, are leaving behind young children.
"With our three-month old daughter it was really difficult for him," said his wife, Kim. "I'm going to miss him terribly."
Cogar is in his seventh year with the National Guard, and Kim Cogar said he understood the need to be in Iraq but also wanted to be home for his baby, Skylar. She said it makes it more difficult because he will miss so many of the baby's firsts while he is gone for probably more than a year and maybe as many as two.
Their departure took them from the Army National Guard Armory on Ridge Road to Interstate-40 and south. Along the route, other family members, friends and encouraging citizens of the community took a few moments to step out on the sidewalks and wave yellow ribbons, flags and hands to show their support as the troops rode past.
The group left just after 8 a.m. with a destination of Camp Shelby, Miss., for three months of training. They then are expected to move to Fort Irwin, Calif., for one month of additional training before an expected overseas deployment - possibly to Iraq - where they will most likely spend one year, according to Capt. Daniel Kearney.
Over the July 4 weekend, the soldiers will be given two days off, which will allow their families one last opportunity to say goodbye.
"We have a strong group, we really do," said Rene Child, president of the Family Readiness Group, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Mike Huskey, was among those leaving. The Family Readiness Group helped organize the coordinated send-off around the county.
"We're all in this together, so it's not one person going through this; we all are," Child said. "We're just thinking about the welcome home party."
As Child drove to the battery early Friday morning, she said she saw people already displaying yellow ribbons and flags along the route they would take to leave. The soldiers were scheduled to arrive at 5 a.m., with the buses pulling out at 6 a.m., but because of a mix-up with the charter company, their goodbyes were extended by two hours. The buses arrived about 7:45 a.m., and by 8:15 they were on the road.
"I'm going to miss him," said Janet Sather of her husband, Sgt. Tim Sather. "I hope they can come home soon."
The members of the 2/278th had to do their final formation in the parking lot of the landfill across the street because too many cars were packed into the armory's parking area.
"There must be 300 family members here," Kearney said.
It was an emotional morning for the soldiers as well. Several men in camouflaged battle dress uniforms could be seen holding little babies as they waited for the buses to arrive. Many others were embracing their wives or sitting down with their children for one final chat.
The soldiers have a job to do, and Kearney said all were ready for it to start. Although the unit is part of an armored cavalry regiment, they are artillery men - also known as 13 Bravos and The King of Battle, the former because of the alpha-numeric code for their military occupational specialty and the latter because of the importance of artillery on the modern battlefield.
"They're ready to go," Kearney said. "They're tired of the getting-ready part. They're ready to get on with the mission."
The 69 members of the 2/278 Armored Cavalry Regiment come from Sevier, Jefferson, Knox and Grainger counties, with one soldier from Virginia who recently transferred into the squadron specifically to take part in this mission.
And they're all ages, from young men to veterans of combat like Sgt. Philip Maples, 54, who first entered the Army in 1969 and fought in Vietnam. He got out in 1973 but joined the National Guard in 1989.
"Thirty years later, I'm going again," he said. Along their route, several businesses displayed signs thanking the soldiers for the service they are about to perform and encouraging them to return home safely. Flags along the route were provided by the businesses and other individuals in the county as well as the Jaycees.
Child was among the convoy of vehicles following the buses to the interstate, and she said that as they drove, the soldiers were calling her on her cell phone to express their gratitude to the people standing along the route wishing them well.
"It meant a lot to the guys," she said. "Even with the delay, everybody was still out there. It was amazing."
Child said that even up to the interstate, there were still people out to show their support.
~ gregw@themountainpress.com
Story Copyright to The Mountain Press