814th MP Company to conduct GTMO mission

Photo By Amabilia Payen | Spc. Curtis Mitchell, military policeman with 814th Military Police Company, U.S. Army Reserve, smiles at the camera while waiting in line for a hot meal at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group, June 18. Mitchell deployed for the first time to Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba, and spent his first Father’s Day there.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

06.18.2015

Story by Amabilia Payen 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas – On June 18, the 814th Military Police Company, U.S. Army Reserve, deployed to Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure airfield, to conduct detainee operations.

According to Capt. Rodney Williams, commander, 814th MP Co., 38 percent of his unit was not organic to his original roster. This means that he had many volunteers from across the country raise their hands to protect and serve.

“I got a lot of unique Soldiers in my company and I am proud and I realize the commitment and the sacrifices they make when they have to leave their families and their jobs to go protect and defend what the government and our country is asking them to do,” said Williams.

One Soldier, who is amongst the youngest in 814th MP Company, became a first-time father in September of 2014, and will be spending his first Father’s Day celebration at GTMO.

“You got to do what you got to do to pay the bills, but they know my heart is there,” said Spc. Curtis Mitchell, military policeman with 814th MP Company. “I wasn’t there for the birth because I was at basic training, but on graduation, I got to see her.”

For Mitchell, the series of firsts continue with the deployment to GTMO.

“I’m proud to be in the U.S. Army,” said Mitchell. “I want to thank my wife and daughter for giving me a reason to be here and push forward.”

Like Mitchell, Williams also extended his gratitude to the communities that supported him and his Soldiers, especially the government offices of Chicago. A few Soldiers are police officers from different districts and suburbs of Chicago, yet Williams expressed that the community as a whole is extremely supportive and he thanks everyone for that.

“I want to give a lot of blessings for my Soldiers,” said Williams. “I hope my first sergeant and I will be able to put the right mechanism in place to bring them all home safely.”

• Date Taken: 06.18.2015
• Date Posted: 07.07.2015 15:36
• Story ID: 169298
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: CHICAGO, IL, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US