Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes | Soldiers from the 772nd Military Police Company, of the Massachusetts National Guard,...... read more read more
TAUNTON, Mass. – Family and friends filled the Taunton high school gymnasium as they gathered around the formation of about 40 Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers to wish them farewell before their upcoming deployment.
On Nov. 26, 2017, the Massachusetts National Guard held a deployment ceremony for the platoon of Soldiers from the 772nd Military Police Company, in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The company is based out of Taunton, Mass., at an armory located across the street from the high school where their families wished them goodbye.
“The Soldiers that have volunteered for this mission are really excited to have the opportunity to deploy,” said Sgt. Juan Rodriguez, a squad leader with the company, explaining that every Soldier going on the mission had volunteered. “Some of the training that we have completed for this deployment has been conducted by highly trained and qualified NCOs with past experience in the same area we are headed to.”
Soon the Soldiers will depart to begin their mission, which will last about nine months, where they will perform their duties as military police at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The mission of the United States Army Military Police Corps is to protect lives and property, and enforce military law on military installations.
“Operation Enduring Freedom is still going on and Guantanamo Bay is still where we keep some of the most dangerous people in the world. These Soldiers will help keep them off the streets,” said Maj Gen Gary W. Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard.
The company also served as part of Operation Enduring Freedom when they deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 to conduct security operations. After the 9/11 attacks they were called to federal service to conduct security operations at Logan and Hyannis Airports. Their last deployment was to Iraq in 2008 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom for a host nation police training mission.
“I feel really good about the upcoming mission,” said Rodriguez “The Soldiers and I feel trained and ready to complete the mission ahead of us.”
In addition to their recent deployments the unit also has an extremely proud history dating back to 1638, part of the oldest military unit in both the National Guard and U.S. Army. It was originally designated as Infantry during the Revolutionary War when its members served at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Later it was designated as Costal Artillery in World War I when it served as the costal defense of Boston.
In World War II it was part of the 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division, where its Soldiers fought in France, Belgium and Germany. Then, in 1967 it received its current designation as the 772nd Military Police Company.
As the ceremony drew to a close the final speaker was a young Lieutenant, the officer that will command the company during their deployment. His short remarks included a promise to the families of the Soldiers.
“I promise to take care of them as if they were my own,” said 1st Lt. William Warnken.
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2017 11:40 |
| Story ID: | 256748 |
| Location: | TAUNTON, MA, US |
| Web Views: | 904 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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