Photo By Maj. Johnpaul Arnold | Pfc. Victoria Young, a 19-year-old Naples, Fla., native, receives her right-shoulder...... read more read more
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By Maj. Johnpaul Arnold
1st BCT, 101st Abn. Div.
CONTIGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Veterans Day in Iraq ushered in right-shoulder combat patches for the Bastogne Soldiers of the 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (air assault). Early this morning, the "Task Master" Battalion held a combat patch ceremony to honor its Soldiers' sacrifice and duty to their country.
The 426th BSB Commander Lt. Col. Greg Anderson spoke to the newly inducted combat soldiers saying, "All of you have joined the Army or re-enlisted to stay in the Army knowing full well you would deploy and serve in combat. You are part of less than one-tenth of 1 percent of Americans who have made that commitment, and for that I thank you."
After completing his Veterans Day comments, Lt. Col. Anderson and Command Sgt. Maj. Lester Stephens, placed a combat patch on the battalion colors bearer, battalion staff, company commanders, and first sergeants. Commanders and first sergeants then placed the Screaming Eagle patch on their Soldiers' right shoulders.
Pfc. Victoria Young, a 19-year-old signal support systems specialist from Naples, Fla., serves with B Company and shares a new connection with her grandfather: "I am very proud because I am with the 101st which is really great, and my grandpa was with the 82nd." Young said she felt extremely special because not many people get to experience such service to their country.
Another new veteran, Pfc. Jamie Chestnut of C Co., sees this morning's ceremony as a significant milestone. Chestnut, a Health Care Specialist and native of Austin, Texas, said of her service to the nation: "It feels like a giant step, like I have accomplished something that a lot of people will never be able to say that they have done. It feels really good."
| Date Taken: | 11.12.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2007 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 13836 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 695 |
| Downloads: | 627 |
This work, New Bastogne Veterans proud to serve, by MAJ Johnpaul Arnold, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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