News Article

By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
06-18-2004

The Sunday morning departure time for Greeneville-based Troop G of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment has been changed.

Sgt. Larry Henderson, a spokesman for the unit, said on Thursday afternoon that an advance party of military vehicles will depart the National Guard Armory on Hal Henard Road at 8:30 a.m. Sunday while a bus carrying the balance of approximately 60 citizen-soldiers will leave the armory about 9 a.m.

Both the advance party and the bus will travel down the West Andrew Johnson Highway to Interstate 81’s exit 23 (the Bulls Gap exit), then head south on Interstate 81.

Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan asked earlier this week that as many local residents as possible line West Andrew Johnson Highway between Hal Henard Road and exit 23 to show support for the Troop G soldiers as they depart Sunday morning for active military duty at Camp Shelby, Miss., and expected later duty in Iraq.

Because of continuing construction along Hal Henard Road, citizens are urged to avoid Hal Henard Road, itself Sunday morning.

Troop G, along with its sister units in the National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, are expected to spend the summer at Camp Shelby before moving, in late August or early September to Fort Irwin, Calif., for advanced desert warfare training.

The National Guard unit is expected to depart in December for service in Iraq, according to Capt. Wiley Hammer, Troop G’s commanding officer.

Troop G mobilized for active duty on Thursday at the armory on Hal Henard Road.

Story Copyright to Greene County Online