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    Indiana Guard Soldiers bid farewell

    Indiana Guard Soldiers bid farewell

    Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Tien Do, right, a native of Indianapolis, and administrative...... read more read more

    TAJI, IRAQ

    06.28.2009

    Courtesy Story

    3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

    CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Soldiers of the Indiana National Guard's 1538th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, from Elkhart, Ind. recently celebrated the end of their mission and their tour with their comrades-in-arms from within the 10th Sus. Bde. and the Camp Taji community.

    The celebration, held in the courtyard of the company's horseshoe-shaped barracks, was punctuated with farewell remarks from Col. Mark Drake, a native of St. Paul, Minn, and the 10th Sus. Bde. commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Allen Fritzsching, a Houston native and the 10th Sus. Bde. senior enlisted advisor.

    Col. Drake appeared before the troops in formation and praised the unit's accomplishments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    "The 1538th has done great work; you've made a name for yourselves and taught me a few things in the process," said Drake. He continued on to remind these men and women of the 1538th to take care of each other in the coming months, to be safe when they get home, and to take their time reintegrating into family life and everyday activities.

    "Things have changed — don't think they haven't. You have changed, your spouse has changed, your children have changed — you cannot come home and take everything over," Drake reminded the Soldiers.

    As part of redeployment training, the Soldiers have received briefings reiterating this fact, and many of the unit's Soldiers have deployed prior and know first-hand the challenges of reintegration. "You can't just walk back in like you were never gone," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Miller, a resident of Rome City, Ind. Miller has deployed previously and his wife Allison is also a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard. "I know the kids have changed and she's been in charge," said Miller, echoing Drake's guidance to the Soldiers.

    Col. Drake and Command Sgt. Maj. Fritzsching both spoke to the troops and presented the unit with a snowshoe-shaped plaque, commemorating their part in 10th Sus. Bde. history. The snowshoe represents the brigade's lineage as a former part of the 10th Mountain Division of World War II fame and the 10th Sustainment Brigade's first operational deployment "Supporting the Climb" in Iraq.

    "We've had a unique part of history here with the Army's transformation," said 1538th commander, Capt. Phillip C. Anderson of Plainfield, Ind. "We've been a part of the 10th Sustainment's history, the 38th Infantry Division's history, and the first unit to wear the new patch of the 38th Sustainment Brigade," said Anderson.

    The evening's festivities included a catered dinner from the brigade's Cantigny Dining Facility and a cookout along with a drawing for door prizes, music, karaoke, and games. Competition was fierce in volleyball and corn hole toss, with prizes going to the winning teams as well. The unit had items sent from Hoosier Racing Tire and the Indiana University Alumni Association which were awarded to the Soldiers.

    For their efforts, many of the unit's Soldiers will be carrying home cream-and-crimson colored Indiana University folding chairs and footballs and purple Hoosier Racing Tire clipboards and basketballs — useful things to have for passing time waiting for a flight. Banners from Hoosier Racing Tire and Indiana University were hung up to be signed by the unit's members. After the unit's return to the States, these banners will be presented back to the organizations that sent them in appreciation of their contributions.

    Many impromptu card games and domino games broke out as the night went on and many songs were sung on the theme of going home. Cpl. John St. Germain, who weeks prior won the Camp Taji karaoke competition sang "Sweet Home Chicago" by the Blues Brothers, "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue and the national anthem. St. Germain, from Elkhart, Ind. said, "This has been a really great evening, everyone getting together like this."

    Early in the evening, Spc. Nathaniel Weyrick, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the unit from Falconer, N.Y., unveiled a song he wrote and recorded for the unit. Weyrick composed the song "We're the 1538th" during his off-duty time during the deployment, incorporating elements of the Soldier's Creed with his personal knowledge of the unit's personnel with esprit-de-corps. "It took me 14 hours to record it," said Weyrick about his five-minute long composition. The recording features Weyrick on guitar and.

    "I was excited when I heard he was working on a unit song," said 1st Lt. G. Elizabeth Brown, an Indianapolis resident and the unit's executive officer. "It's not every unit that gets to have their own song."

    The 1538th is rapidly approaching redeployment back home to Camp Atterbury at the end of June. Soldiers and their families will participate in three months of drill weekends as part of the "seamless transition" program, designed to reintegrate Soldiers and families and to strengthen relationship bonds. The program also incorporates periodic health assessments and other post-deployment events while ensuring that families are included in the process.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.28.2009
    Date Posted: 06.28.2009 13:14
    Story ID: 35720
    Location: TAJI, IQ

    Web Views: 301
    Downloads: 261

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