Transportation unit preps for deployment
Published Saturday, August 23, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — More than 170 soldiers and their families gathered at Fort Wainwright on Friday afternoon for a ceremony marking the 539th Transportation Company’s upcoming deployment to Iraq.
The 539th, which was reactivated in March after more than 30 years, will provide convoy escorts out of Kuwait and throughout Iraq during a 12 month period.
“I’m excited about the deployment,” company commander Capt. Toby Williford said. “I’m ready to get into it, and we have a great group of soldiers that for a lot of them it’s their first opportunity to deploy.”
The 539th was originally known as Company C, 48th Quartermaster Regiment when it was constituted in 1936. For most of its history, it was an overseas unit, last seeing active duty in 1971 in Vietnam.
The unit has been training furiously both at Fort Wainwright and the Donnelly Training Area at Fort Greely in the months leading up to the deployment. Training scenarios have included methods of countering roadside bombs as well as ongoing reconstruction efforts.
“The last time I was there. it was really an interesting animal because there were still a lot more enemy engagements,” said Williford, who will be on his second deployment. “But at the same time, it was three years into the Iraq war so we were trying to a progress a little bit into the rebuilding.”
Battalion commander Lt. Col. Mike Snyder echoed that sentiment.
“Iraq changes all the time. It’s a very dynamic theater, so even if a soldier has been there in the last year, it’s changed completely,” he said. “The advantage to the veterans is they get to show the soldiers the fundamental ropes because there are some fundamental things that don’t change.”
Of course, the company hasn’t forgotten the hundreds of family members they will leave behind. Sgt. Kyle Thompson, on his third deployment to Iraq, said that’s the most important advice he gives to new soldiers.
“Most of my advice comes to personal lives, taking care of wives, girlfriends,” he said. “Make sure the finances are straight and make sure their wives know how to do anything back here.”
Community Discussion
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Be safe. Is there any coverage on those with the AirForce being deployed? Just wondering, never read or hear about them.
Aksunshine - no, because typically, the AF deploys a couple here and there at a time, not in a large group. My husband is deploying soon as well, but there's no pomp and circumstance for our fellas. They leave quietly and come home just the same. No gathering, no send-off, nothing.
Hope that answered your question :)
Does, and thanks. My thanks to your husband and those in all branches of the military. May God go with him.
Thank you Aksunshine - I'll pass it along to my husband :)
aksunshine. I've read many of these blogs over the past weeks and its TRUE Alaskans such as yourself that acknowledge the military's (all branches) devotion to keeping the country and its people safe that warms our hearts and makes the sacrifices these families make WELL worth it.:) Thank You.
mamabear I hope your husband and those of the airforce return home safely too.:) My spouse's unit didn't have the fanfare either when they left last month but that's okay as long as they come home safely next year.:)
Those of you in the transportation unit be careful out there we'll be thinking of you and all of the other soldiiers as well as the air force personel leaving in the weeks ahead.:)
Thank you LoneWolf91 - I agree - the bottom line is that they come back home safely :)
I too have been disappointed to read some of the hate speech on here re: the military, so it's a welcome and positive change to hear from those that do care and are appreciative in our community! Thanks again! :)
LoneWolf91 - I pray for your spouse's safe return. I hope Murphy's Law doesn't pay you any visits during this deployment lol! And I'm hoping Murphy just forgets about me altogether this time around! He's bugged me one too many times! :)
God bless and God speed.
mamabear.:)
Thank You.:D I know what you mean when my spouse left on a peace keeping mission in the late 90s from fort wainwright that lasted 6 months EVERYTHING that could go wrong DID around here.:) It was strange because on the month he was to return EVERYTHING had started to go smoothly again.(go figure)LOL
I too pray that our spouses and everyone else deployed in the weeks ahead dodges Murphey's law which seems to plague so many of us in these times.:)
In times of deployment and foreign wars, we are well served to support those who walk the line. We will gain nothing in targeting the soldiers in this atmosphere of an unpopular war. The horrors of war seen by the eyes of teens in Vietnam was only made worse by the hate of anti-war protesters turned against them. There's no doubt we are facing a similar post-war crisis for the next generation of veterans. They will need our support now but more importantly upon return. It is healthy that the soldier-centric sentiment has changed in this country from that during Vietnam. Anti-war protesters have made great strides in moving their target from the soldier to the administration. I only wish the military would change their target from a country's oil wealth to the region's dictators in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and religious extremists in northern Pakistan. There's a long fight ahead and the troops need all the support they can get. Anybody who shares their hate on these pages or elsewhere is misguided.
This didn't get posted last night for some reason, but you might be interested in the video I took at yesterday's deployment ceremony as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySukhtX2A...
Chris,
Thanks for posting the video!
To the military community:
A Big Thank you for being a part of my community. And for those of you who have family staying behind as you deploy, know that they are welcomed and safe in our community. May you come home to your families & our community safe. And for those of you who are the families of our deploying soldiers, you are part of our commiunity if you ever need support our whole commiunity is here for you. Peace be with you.
Ms.P
PS
Thanks Chris for the link.
Brandon.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
You're post clearly has had much though put into it and brings up very good points indeed.:)
Sometimes I think that it isn't another country whom will bring our great country to its knees it will be the discord within our own borders sad to say.
Chris Freiberg.
Thanks for the video link of the deploying unit.:)
I know from experience that the soldiers enjoy getting a chance to show their pride and dedication to the mission and their country for all to witness whether they agree with it or not.:)
Photo by Eric Engman
Sgt. Kyle Thompson salutes while framed by the salute of Col. Edward Daly, Deputy Commanding Officer of U.S. Army Alaska, during the playing of the National Anthem at the 539th Transportation Company, 25th Brigade Support Battalion Deployment Ceremony Friday morning, Aug. 22, 2008, at Fort Wainwright.
Eric this is a wonderful inspiring "salute photo". It makes one feel they are in formation saluting also. Thanks for my civilian salute to "all" of our military families. "Salute"
our prayers go to the families of the departing soldiers...hurry home and stay safe! stupid, ridiculous, sorry but these are my thoughts on it all! it is time to once again extend a helping hand to the wives and children that will stay here throughout the deployment.
Something funny- My brother is a career Army officer, Ranger!!! Everytime i see a soldier in their black beret I am reminded of his rage when they took the black beret from the Rangers to give to everyone in the Army. To this day the Rangers are still upset about it :-).
-The legs have our beret- he said for years and still does, driving my poor sister in law crazy! I think the -legs- are the soldiers that do not parachute? Does anyone more familier with the Army know about this beret hostility?
Well, beret or not you guys stay out of harms way and dont worry about your families, this community will look after them.
akraquel
I remember when they made the soldiers start wearing the black beret (we were at fort lee virginia at the time).:)
General Shinseski thought it would be a fine idea if EVERYONE wore a black beret which upset the Rangers who felt like it was a slap in the face because they believed it took their distinction away as an elite force giving it to everyone else that they must've felt didn't deserve it BUT on the same note NO ONE else wanted to wear the black beret either.ROFL
So the Rangers were given a TAN beret afterwards and the troops were still stuck wearing a black beret instead of the cap they were so used to wearing.LOL
I want to thank you for your support of the military and am glad the few malcontents don't speak for the majority.:)
Be Safe and Hurry Home Guys!!! :)
-539th Wife
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