49TH MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE

Story by Sgt. Kenneth Bince

When he learned in April about his upcoming deployment, then Lt. Col. Rudy Arruda, a Yreka native, started preparing, like most people, by informing his family, friends and co-workers about his news.

He has worked for the California Department of Fish and Game for over 20 years. "I'm part of a team of game wardens and officers called Squad 2100,"said now Col. Arruda, California National Guard, 49th Military Police Brigade, deputy commander. "My team is responsible for the Northern California region of the state consisting of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties."

As the months went by and the deployment date got closer, the tight knit group of Squad 21 came up with an original idea. "In mid-June my friend Larry Harris surprised me with a California flag," said Arruda.

Upon closer inspection Arruda noticed the edge of the flag that attaches to the flag pole, was signed by a number of his fellow officers. "A few members of the squad thought that it would be a great idea to fly the flag over Iraq and give the California Soldiers, serving in Iraq, a remembrance of home, and I agreed," said Arruda.

Not long after the transfer of authority from the 8th MP Brigade to the 49th MP Brigade, the flag was raised over PAD 19 Camp Liberty, Iraq on October 12. "It was great to see it go up over the compound," said Arruda. "Now anyone that comes and goes past our area, they will know where we are from and see that we're from the great state of California."

Since the flag raising a month ago there has been nothing but positive responses. "It's great to have a daily connection to home. It feels a lot like we are at home at the armory in Fairfield," said Staff Sgt. Tim Ramirez, a resident of Rio Vista, Calif., headquarters company operations non commissioned officer.

"It's remarkable to see that the bear flag made the long trip with us to Iraq," said Spc. Daniel Greene, a Dixon, Calif. resident and 49th personal security detail Soldier. "Every day that we go out on mission we roll out the front of the complex and see it flying there, underneath the US flag. It's like we have our own little piece of California here."

"During our last deployment here to Iraq the only flag I remember us having was a green one, which represented our weapon status, said Staff Sgt. Greg Knott, a Sacramento, Calif. resident and 49th communications non commissioned officer. "So this is an improvement."

"When I see the flag here," said Sgt. Deanna Gray, a Sacramento, Calif. resident and 49th human resource sergeant. "I think of the last family vacation I went on with my husband and son to Disneyland right before I mobilized for Iraq."

Once the 49th's mission here in Iraq is complete in August of next year, Arruda plans to lower the California flag down, and take it with him back home. "What I would like to do is present the flag back to the Department of Fish and Game as a piece of history," said Arruda. "It will be a piece of history for the California National Guard, and the California Department of Fish and Game."

"Hopefully, the flag will end up being displayed at the Yreka office back home," said Arruda. The flag having traveled over 16,000 miles may ultimately become a piece of history as well a symbol of the sacrifice and service of the Citizen Soldier.

Associated Images

Control Panel