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| Miller and daughter: Specialist Steven Miller looks with wonder how his six-month-old daughter Mayven has grown since he left home a year ago. (Georgia National Guard photo by Spc. Amanda Luksic) |
Georgia National Guard
Public Affairs Office
FORT GILLEM, Ellenwood, Sept. 22, 2006 – Sounds of jubilant celebration filled the gym of Neal Fitness Center, but it wasn’t enthusiastic sports fans cheering on their favorite basketball team that stood shouting and waving banners from the stands.
The noise that reverberated throughout the building this day was came from more than 200 families, friends and fellow Soldiers welcoming home Georgia’s 221st Military (MI) Intelligence Battalion. The unit returned mid afternoon from its second deployment in two year’s time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“What an exceptional group of Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. John Rudio, who commands the battalion. “Never have I been so honored, so privileged to lead such dedicated and committed individuals as these.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hurndon echoed that sentiment, saying that unit members out did themselves in accomplishing their mission and then returning safely home.
“They are outstanding men and women who remain humble in their service to their state and country, and they greatly deserve the praise bestowed upon them today,” he said.
For Georgia’s 221st MI, this latest deployment was its second. The first occurred from February 2003 to March 2004 not only for Operation Iraqi Freedom, but also to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The battalion mobilized in July 2005 and moved to Fort Dix, N.J., for its train-up for Iraq. Three months later, the 221st was back in country, this time as Task Force Battle Boar, and with the mission of providing tactical human intelligence and long-range surveillance to Multi National Corps – Iraq. During their year in that war-torn country, the 19 tactical intelligence teams of the 221st submitted more than 2,000 intelligence reports and supported the operations of Task Force Phantom, the first ever intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance task force. The combined efforts of the two task forces successfully identified insurgent smuggling routes and facilitation cells throughout Iraq’s western deserts. They also performed critical infrastructure surveillance missions in northern Iraq, and they trained battalion-size elements of the Iraqi Security Force.
And this, Hurndon said, is only a small part of what the 221st did during its year back in Iraq. “We did it all, and we did it with the pride and professionalism that comes from being members of the Georgia Army National Guard.
Now that the battalion is back home, its Soldiers only want to think about the time they’ll spend making up the year they’ve been away from loved ones.
There’ll be time for reflection of lessons learned, said Sgt. Claudia Kokasm, a supply specialist for the 221st. “Right now, right here, the only thing I want to think about for awhile is how I’m going to spend time with my boys.” Reaching over and holding her sons Mark and Charles close, it was obvious that she would have no trouble doing that.
221st MI Returns To Cheering Families
