Photo By Maj. Marvin Baker | Soldiers said goodbye to friends and family during the 804th Transportation...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Soldiers said goodbye to friends and Family during the 804th Transportation Detachment’s farewell ceremony at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, Jan. 2.
The 804th Transportation Detachment is comprised of nearly two dozen logistics Soldiers who will spend most of 2016 coordinating the return of military equipment to the United States from Bagram, Afghanistan.
During the ceremony, the small group of nearly two dozen Soldiers proudly stood in formation displaying their unit guidon in front of a large audience and the 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) command team.
Brig. Gen. Gregory Mosser served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. During his remarks, he offered the unit motivational advice and gratitude to them and their family members for their sacrifice and service. The unit will spend most of 2016 in Bagram, Afghanistan coordinating the return of military equipment to the United States.
Over the past year, Soldiers in the unit completed several weeks of pre-deployment training at JBLM and other military installations.
“The training we have done so far will help us do our jobs during the deployment,” said Capt. Antoinette E. Hyres, the detachment’s commander.
The men and women of the detachment are mostly from Washington and for most this will be their second or third deployment in a few years.
“We have been married two years and this is his second deployment since our wedding,” said Stephanie Allen who is married to Spc. William Harris, a movement control specialist in the unit. Harris requested special permission from the military to deploy on this subsequent deployment, Allen said.
Both said they are excited and happy to be joining the 804th Transportation Detachment on this deployment because of the career experiences and financial benefits. “This deployment will help him increase his eligibility for a larger payout of Post 9/11 G.I. Bill education benefits. He will use his education benefits to become a teacher and football coach when he comes home,” Allen said.
Other family members like Tracy Nguyen said farewell to their Soldier for the second time as well. “My younger brother, Spc. Theodore Chao, is going on his second deployment to Afghanistan,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen said after the last time her brother returned from Afghanistan he seemed more mature, experienced and appreciated family even more. “I noticed when he came home he spent a lot more time talking with us about his life and getting to know everyone more,” she added.
When Chao returns home later this year, he said he will take the skills, benefits and advice he will receive during this deployment to enhance his civilian career as a government contractor.
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2016 18:24 |
| Story ID: | 187454 |
| Location: | FORT LEWIS, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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