PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Twenty-four Paratroopers stood at the position of attention in the courtyard of the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, donning their maroon berets for the first time since leaving Fort Bragg over a month ago. They gathered here to swear to further serve the U.S. Army, by raising their right hand for a second — or third — time, and re-enlisting.
Prior to the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, deputy commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Joint Task Force-Haiti, gathered the Paratroopers around and congratulated them on their work so far and thanked them for their desire to continue to serve with their units on Feb. 25. The soldiers then fell back into their ranks and Allyn led them in the re-enlistment oath.
Afterward, each soldier accepted his or her certificate of reenlistment from Allyn, where he took time to pose for photos with each of them, making small talk and thanking them again for their sacrifice.
Although they had just made one of the most important decisions of their careers, several of the soldiers were simply excited to meet someone of such rank and importance. "That was the best part," said Pfc. Gregory Billie, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. "Shaking a two-star general's hand."
Date Taken: | 02.25.2010 |
Date Posted: | 02.26.2010 06:43 |
Story ID: | 45876 |
Location: | PORT-AU-PRINCE, HT |
Web Views: | 191 |
Downloads: | 188 |
This work, Twenty-four 2nd Brigade Combat Team Paratroopers raise their right hands — again, by SFC Kissta DiGregorio, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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