Carroll County, Tenn., Troopers Think of Home
(June 14, 2010) |
|
|
| CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Soldiers with 1st
Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment
Command (Expeditionary), performing force protection and
convoy security in support of the upcoming responsible
drawdown of U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq, got to
bring a little piece of home to Iraq... each other. |
Soldiers with 1st Squadron,
278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment
Command (Expeditionary), stand for a group photo
April 15 at Contingency Operating Base Q-West,
Iraq. Many Soldiers with 1st Sqdn. are natives
of Carroll County, Tenn., and have drawn on that
bond throughout their deployment. U.S. Army
photo by 1st Lt. DesiRee Nicely |
|
Many units, both active duty and reserve, deploy with people
they know well and live close to, but Soldiers with 1st Sqdn.,
278th ACR a National Guard unit out of Carroll County,
Tenn., were able to deploy with relatives, lifelong
acquaintances and high school friends.
“It's different when you deploy with people you've gone to
school with and have grown up with,” said Pvt. Brent Baker,
a vehicle gunner with A Troop, 1st Sqdn. and a Carroll
County native. “I'm even related to another Soldier here; he
is married to my cousin. We're a real tight-knit community,
and I'm glad to be surrounded by familiar faces for this
deployment.”
Spc. Blake Speer, a vehicle gunner with A Troop, 1st Sqdn.
and a Carroll County native, said that while he misses his
wife and son, it helps to be deployed with such good
friends.
“It's a humbling experience for Lt. Col. Jimmie L. Cole, Jr.
and myself to be in a position to watch these young Soldiers
perform their missions, knowing the sacrifices they are
making, as well as the sacrifices that family, friends and
employers back home are making to support us,” said Command
Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Butler, command sergeant major of 1st
Sqdn. and a Carroll County native. “It's also humbling when
you realize that the Soldiers you are serving with are the
children of your high school classmates, old friends, fellow
church members and people you know in general around the
community. Carroll County is well represented here by some
of its finest.”
There are Carroll County natives woven throughout the entire
278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and “Cobra Squadron” happens
to be home to quite a few.
“Carroll County should be extremely proud of these Soldiers
and their performance here in Iraq,” Butler said. “They
represent the true volunteer spirit of Tennessee and are
performing flawlessly. They are making history by being part
of the drawdown and the final days of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.” |
By Army 13th Sustainment Command
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
Comment on this article |
|
