News Article
By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
06-19-2004
Most local Army National Guard soldiers are spending a final day with their families today before departing on Sunday morning for active military duty at Camp Shelby, Miss.
The families will say their final goodbyes on Sunday morning before Greeneville-based Troop G, along with other Northeast Tennessee units of the National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment departs for active duty in which they likely will be sent to Iraq by late this year.
Community residents have been urged by local officials to line the West Andrew Johnson Highway before 9 a.m. Sunday to show support for the Troop G soldiers as they depart by bus for Camp Shelby, Miss.
Governor Bids Farewell
On Friday afternoon, many of the Troop G soldiers got a personal farewell from Gov. Phil Bredesen and several members of his cabinet who visited the National Guard armory on Hal Henard Road.
Gov. Bredesen was in town to attend 'Southeastern Expo '04" at the Greene County Fairgrounds and to attend a the County Democratic Party's ice cream social event at Greeneville's Forest Park. But the governor departed from his schedule to visit the local National Guardsmen.
As the soldiers stood in formation clad in physical training T-shirts and shorts, Gov. Bredesen offered them "personal thanks on behalf of myself and on behalf of all citizens of the State of Tennessee for your service."
Accompanying the governor were Jerry Humble, Tennessee Homeland Security director; Fred Phillips, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and a veteran of the Korean War; and Susan Whitaker, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Phillips and Whitaker both also offered their thanks and prayers of support for the troop.
"My hat is off to you, and I will be praying for you,” Commissioner Phillips, who formerly was Washington County’s sheriff, said. "We support you and will never forget the sacrifice that you’re making. God bless you."
Humble warned the soldiers, "As one soldier to another, it’s going to get emotional this weekend."
He urged National Guardsmen who previously had seen combat duty to help those who had not.
"I know you’re already doing that, but the most important thing is you are a team," he said. "Take care of each other."
A retired U.S. Marine Corps two-star general, Humble remarked to the citizen-soldiers that he was familiar with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR).
He noted that while he was serving as a strategic planner in South Korea, the 278th ACR had been one of the U.S.-based units that military leaders had counted upon to push back the North Korean Army if it ever invaded South Korea.
As he concluded his remarks, Humble became emotional and with a tremble in his voice said, "You’re Americans, and don’t let those bastards (an apparent reference to Iraqi insurgents) beat you." The remark elicited loud, approving shouts from the assembled soldiers. Gov. Bredesen visited the armory for about 20 minutes, just after 3 p.m. After he briefly spoke to the soldiers, the governor walked through the formation, shaking hands with each soldier.
Skeleton Crew Today
Capt. Wiley Hammer, commanding officer of Troop G, said Friday afternoon that only a "skeleton crew" of soldiers would be on duty at the National Guard armory today (Saturday).
"There are certain things that have to be done on Saturday, so some of us will be here,” Capt. Hammer said. “But I feel it’s important for as many of the men as possible to spend a last day with their families."
While taking a brief break from conducting an inventory of his unit’s "sensitive materials" at about 1 p.m. Friday, Capt. Hammer said most of the members of his unit was taking part in physical training (PT) exercises at Greeneville Middle School on Friday afternoon.
Unit leaders had chosen to conduct physical training exercises in Friday afternoon’s 90-degree heat in an effort to simulate what conditions will be like when Troop G soldiers arrive at Camp Shelby in southern Mississippi.
"A few of us were down there (Camp Shelby) last week, and the humidity was miserable," Capt. Hammer said.
Troop G soldiers are expected to spend about three months at Camp Shelby before moving to Fort Irwin, Calif., in late August or early September for advanced training designed to prepare them from duty in Iraq by late this year or early next year.
Sunday's Schedule
Troop G’s soldiers will report to the armory early Sunday and take part in a "first formation" at 7 a.m.
Afterward, he said, members of the unit will "do the duffel-bag drag" (carry or drag the duffel bags that contain their clothing and other personnel equipment) and load them aboard a Greene Coach bus that will carry most members of the unit to Camp Shelby.
After loading their duffel bags aboard the bus, Capt. Hammer said, the Troop G soldiers will be able to spend time with their families outside the armory until departure time.
Departures Start 8:30 a.m.
On Friday afternoon, Capt. Hammer said three military vehicles, including one in which he will ride, will depart the armory at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in order to meet with the other elements of a convoy being formed by vehicles from other 278th ACR units in Northeast Tennessee.
The convoy is forming up along Interstate 40, he said.
But the bus that is carrying the majority of the approximately 60 Troop G soldiers who are leaving on Sunday morning now is scheduled to depart the armory sometime between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to give the soldiers and their families as much time as possible together.
When the bus leaves, Capt. Hammer said, it is expected to be escorted by a contingent of "Rolling Thunder" motorcycles.
"We’re trying to hold the bus as long as we can," Capt. Hammer said. The bus, according to Capt. Hammer, is expected to reach Camp Shelby after a 10 to 12 hour drive Sunday.
The convoy of military vehicles, however, will not reach Camp Shelby until sometime on Monday afternoon.
"We will spend Sunday night somewhere in Alabama," Capt. Hammer said.
Show of Support Sought
Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan asked earlier this week that as many local residents as possible line up along the West Andrew Johnson Highway between Hal Henard Road and Interstate 81’s exit 23 to show support for the Troop G soldiers as they depart on Sunday morning.
Because of continuing construction along Hal Henard Road, citizens are urged to avoid Hal Henard Road on Sunday morning.
"We need to show that Greene County pride for these folks who are going to put their lives on the line for us," Jones has said. "You may be a little late for Sunday school, but I think the good Lord will approve of it."
Jones added, "They’re putting their lives on the line for us."
Story Copyright to Greene County Online