1207th Quartermaster Co. ready for Iraq deployment

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Knight, from the 1207th Quartermaster Companay, receives information from his interpreter while Sgt. John Davis provides security during an Entrance Control Point Exercise at Forward Operating Base Warrior, located on Camp Atterbury, Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. on March 6. The 1207th Quartermaster Co. is preparing for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

UNITED STATES

03.26.2008

Courtesy Story

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs Officer

The 1207th Quartermaster Company from Goodwater, Ala., isn't your average unit. The National Guard unit was formed in September 2007 and contains only 19 Soldiers, most of which volunteered for deployment to Iraq.

"This unit is a mixture of special people coming from other units to deploy together," said Sgt. Joey Davis, squad leader for the 1207th. "The majority of us are veterans and volunteered to go on this deployment."

Davis received a message from a friend, whom he referred to as "a brother from another mother," from a previous deployment. The message was about volunteering together for this tour. Davis said that once he received this message, there was no question about what was to happen next.

Spc. Cory Williams received communication of his first deployment in the middle of one of his college classes.

"I am one of the seven or eight people who didn't volunteer to go, but by being with veterans, I feel pretty safe about going over," said Williams. "They and training have taught me a lot, like to always be aware of my surroundings."

"For first timers like me, leaving your family can be hard, but once you start making your unit your family, things become easier. We have great people in our unit that make me feel ready to deploy," he added.

One of the Soldiers Williams referred to was Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Knight. Knight stepped up to be the unit's first sergeant while on deployment in Iraq.

"He has taken on a lot of responsibility with this position and is doing a great job," said Davis. "He knows how to work with the Soldiers and not only get respect, but give it in return."

2nd Lt. Jessica Moore is another Soldier who is stepping up their game in the unit. Having only been in the National Guard for two years, Moore joined the unit directly after completing Reserve Officer Training Corps. She is one of only three females in the unit and, according to Davis, has tackled hands-on training and adjusted to her officer role.

"She is a young officer," said Davis, "She is learning and improving every day."

While in Iraq, the unit's mission will be to purify water at Al Asad Airbase.

War veterans and first-timers bonded and prepared for Iraq through months of training. In the fall, the unit completed three weeks of pre-mobilization training. Because of that training and other preparation, the 1207th was only at Camp Atterbury from Feb. 13 to March 17.

"The instructors kept us on our feet by constantly throwing different scenarios at us and giving us no downtime," said Williams. "They really made us think and taught us a lot."

"Even though I have been deployed, the training here taught me some things I didn't know from previous experience. I feel even more prepared than before and know I will be able to have anyone's back for anything if they need it," added Davis.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2008
• Date Posted: 03.26.2008 16:47
• Story ID: 17790
• Location: US