News Article

By: BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
10-25-2004

Sun Photo by Phil Gentry
In the top photo above, flag-waving well-wishers say
goodbye to buses carrying departing Company C soldiers along
East Andrew Johnson Highway on Saturday morning near CCU
Boulevard. The lower photo at left shows Staff Sgt. David
Griffith hugging his son, David, 4, goodbye at the Greeneville
Army Reserve Center on Saturday morning. The lower photo
at right shows Pvt. Rocky Stafford kissing his wife, Lori,
goodbye at the Army Reserve Center.

Citizens lined Andrew Johnson Highway from Justis Drive in Greeneville to Interstate 81’s exit 23 as the soldiers who make up Company C of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 844th Engineer Battalion departed.

They were driven out of town about 10:30 a.m. Saturday aboard three chartered buses and a van.

The local Army reservists were bound for Camp Atterbury, Ind., where Company C is expected to undergo more training for an unspecified period of time before being sent to Iraq.

Greene County Mayor Roger Jones, who drove the departure route between Justis Drive in Greeneville and Interstate 81’s exit 23 in Mosheim, said later that he believed Saturday’s citizen turnout for Company C’s departure may have been larger than the turnout for the departure in June of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s Greeneville-based Troop G.

"There were people all along the route," he said. "There was a huge crowd of people at the Rogersville Road intersection, hundreds more near the Homestead Restaurant and hundreds upon hundreds in Mosheim."

Jones said the sight of banner- and flag-waving citizens showing support for the departing Company C soldiers brought tears to his eyes as he drove along the road behind the buses.

'It Makes Me Proud'

"It makes me proud that the citizens come out," he said. "Small-town America is the backbone of this country, and we showed that today. People were wiping tears from their eyes all the way down. That’s when you know it means something. They were out there with their hearts today."

Jones said he, initially, had been concerned that turnout for Company C’s departure might be light because the number of people in the Big Lots shopping center when the buses entered the East Andrew Johnson Highway was smaller than he had hoped it would be.

But his concern disappeared, he said, when the convoy of buses, led by the patrol cars of the Greeneville Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and Constable Johnny Rader, reached the Winn-Dixie supermarket parking lot.

He said the crowds of well-wishers seemed to grow larger the farther west the bus convoy moved along the highway.

Time With Families

Earlier Saturday morning, many of the approximately 130 men and women soldiers had spent a bittersweet hour with their families at the Army Reserve Center on Barton Ridge Road before loading their baggage aboard a tractor-trailer and boarding the buses as their names were called.

A delay in the baggage truck’s arrival put the departure about half an hour behind schedule, and many of the departing soldiers’ friends and family members stood just outside the Reserve Center’s parking lot waiting for a last glimpse of the soldiers.

The soldiers had gathered at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot for a formation, then had been allowed to spend time with their families until 9:30 a.m.

Fathers and mothers, like Larry and Diane Kidwell of Spears Dykes Road, near Baileyton spent time with their soon-to-depart sons and daughters.

The Kidwells spoke with a Greeneville Sun reporter while standing with their son, Brandon, 20, a 2003 graduate of North Greene High School.

Brandon said he had gone to NGHS on Friday to say goodbye to his former teachers and school friends.

"I’m already looking forward to getting back," Brandon said, adding that he plans to attend college once Company C’s deployment to Iraq is over.

Larry Kidwell, who said he retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service, said he hoped Company C would not be as much at risk in Iraq as other units because of its construction-related mission.

Inside a garage-like building on the Reserve Center grounds where the soldiers’ duffel bags, rucksacks and other equipment were stored before it was loaded aboard a tractor-trailer, some soldiers used the piles of baggage as mattresses and slept.

Praying Together

In a corner of the parking lot away from the main body of the soldiers, about a dozens members of Staff Sgt. Marc Helm’s family stood in a circle with arms intertwined over each other’s shoulders and prayed. They concluded their private prayer service by reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

At another spot in the Reserve Center’s rear parking lot, Staff Sgt. Alexi Farmer and Staff Sgt. Scottie Greene played with the pet dogs each is leaving behind.

Greene said his 7-year-old Australian Shepherd dog, Red, would be cared for by his mother, Judy Greene. He noted that he and Red had never been separated from each other for an extended time.

Judy Greene said Red always becomes anxious when she sees Scottie Greene wearing his camouflage "battle-dress utilities" uniform.

"She knows that means he’s going to be leaving," she said.

Walker said family members would care for her year-and-a-half-old mixed-breed dog, Ben.

A large, gentle animal, Ben did not seem bothered by the crowd of strangers that surrounded him on Saturday morning, and he licked the faces of several children who stopped to pet him.

Also present at the Reserve Center on Saturday morning were a number of former members of Company C. Among the former unit members was Jerry Fortner, president of Greeneville-based C&C Millwright Maintenance Co.

Fortner said the current version of Company C appeared to be populated, overall, by younger soldiers than was the case during his time in the unit.

He said that likely was a good thing and noted that he believed Company C is well-prepared for its expected assignment to Iraq.

"They’re ready," he said.

'Came To See My Buddies'

Another former unit member, Daniel Freeman, arrived at the Army Reserve Center before 7:30 a.m. with several members of his family.

"I just had to come to see my buddies," said Freeman, who was medically discharged from Company C in 1998. "They’re all like relatives to me, just one big family."

Overhearing Freeman’s comment about the family nature of Company C, Sgt. Jeff Fox, who had been guarding the Reserve Center overnight, said, "We have to be."

Fox said that nine of his family members would be attending the Saturday morning send-off event.

A third former Company C member who came to the Reserve Center on Saturday morning was Jeff Bright, who said he spent 23 years with Company C before retiring in 2002.

"I’ve known some of these guys for 20 years," he said, adding that he wished that he could have been going with the rest of the unit on Saturday.

Officials On Hand

Mingling with the soldiers and their families on Saturday morning were Mayor Jones, Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan, state Sen. Steve Southerland, R-1st, of Morristown, and state Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville.

Southerland, who learned on Saturday morning that Company C soldiers had requested, but had not received, a Tennessee flag to carry to Iraq, retrieved from his car both a boxed state flag and a boxed U.S. flag along with several Tennessee "Blue Books," which list the names and office phone numbers of all officials of state government.

1st Sgt. Gary Beason told Southerland that the unit much appreciated receiving the Tennessee flag.

"I will make sure that we fly it and do it proud," Beason said while unfolding the state’s banner.

Asked about his feelings on Saturday morning, Sen. Southerland said: "I just want to say we’re proud of our troops and that it’s a sad day to see them leave. We’re all proud of the sacrifice they’re making in being willing to leave their families to protect our country and fight for freedom and democracy throughout the world."

Rep. Hawk also commented outside the Army Reserve Center on Saturday morning as he held his young daughter.

"One of the hardest things we do as a country is to send our soldiers off to a foreign land," Rep. Hawk said. "We truly thank the soldiers of Company C of the 844th for what they do to protect us as a state and as a country."

As we deployed the soldiers of the 278th (Armored Cavalry Regiment in June), I wanted to make sure my daughter was there so she could see the sacrifice that these men and women are making for us.

"I wanted her to be here today to see what service to your country means. These soldiers exemplify that, and we’re proud they’re based in Greeneville."

Band Plays ‘Rocky Top’

As Rep. Hawk spoke with a Greeneville Sun reporter, a 60-member "pep band" from Greeneville High School played numbers from the band’s "G.I. Jive" football halftime show.

The band also played "Rocky Top" by request several times before Company C departed.

Friends and family members of Company C soldiers were asked to leave the Reserve Center parking lot at 9:30 a.m. so that final preparations for the soldiers’ departure, including loading baggage and conducting a roll call, could be conducted unimpeded.

During a formation, Capt. Eugene Hunton, Company C’s commanding officer, addressed the assembled soldiers.

"Well, today’s the day," he said. "It’s obviously somewhat of a sad time. But I think it's a prideful time too. That's what sends a chill through me, and I hope it’s the same thing for you, is the pride you’re all feeling right now watching your family members and friends and the pride they’re all showing in us.

"I really don’t know what to say at this point. I’m really proud of you guys. You’ve really stepped up the last three weeks and got the training done that we had to do here. We’re getting ready to go through some (more) pretty hard training. I don’t know how long it’s going to take."

Capt. Hunton’s Advice

Capt. Hunton said he advised the soldiers to focus on taking the upcoming training "one day at a time."

He noted that all members of the company had experienced the rigors of basic training.

"That’s the frame of mind we’ve got to get into now. Focus on the training. Deal with the day-to-day activities and before you know it, we’ll be done with this part of it.

"Then we’re going to go do our job. Charlie Company is going to get it done. That’s what we’re all about."

Capt. Hunton concluded by telling the soldiers that he was "extremely proud" of them.

"Let’s wipe the tears off and get on with business," he said.

After the commander finished speaking, 1st Sgt. Beason took charge of the formation. Apparently sensing that many of the soldiers were struggling with their emotions, Beason ordered the formation to perform and "about face" movement and to remove their caps.

"I want you to get rid of all that grief," he said. "When I turn you around, we're going to do our mission. We’ve going to do it to the best of our ability, and we’re going to come back here, and we’re going to be happier than hell when we get back."

1st Sgt. Beason told the soldiers that if he didn’t see smiles on their faces when they turned around "we’re going to do push-ups."

'I Don’t See Any Smiles'

When the soldiers, on his orders, turned to face Beason, he said, "I don’t see any smiles," and ordered the soldiers to "open ranks" and face "half left."

"I’m starting to see some more smiles," he said, before ordering the soldiers into the push-up exercise position. When they assumed the prone position, holding themselves off the pavement with outstretched arms, Beason began calling exercise cadence.

After about 10 push-ups were completed by the formation, Beason ordered the soldiers back to the position of attention and back to facing front.

"I still don’t see anybody smiling," he said, before ordering the soldiers to prepare to load their bags aboard a tractor-trailer.

After the loading was completed, the soldiers were called back into formation for a final time and directed to pick up a bag lunch and board the waiting buses as their names were called by Beason.

A short time later, the buses, escorted by local emergency vehicles, left the Reserve Center, passing through the crowd as family members and friends waved.

Along Tusculum Boulevard, parked Greeneville fire trucks saluted the passing soldiers, and near the intersection of Justis Drive and the East Andrew Johnson Highway, a GFD ladder truck with a large American flag hung from its vertically extended ladder awaiting the small convoy’s arrival.

Beyond that intersection, hundreds of local residents, many waving flags or holding banners and signs, waved goodbye as the sirens of emergency vehicles wailed.

Story Copyright to Greene County Online