124th MPAD
July 29, 2007 – Sunday marked the beginning of a new era for the Georgia Army National Guard as Metter’s 265th Engineering Group was deactivated, becoming the newly activated 265th Regional Support Group.
During a ceremony attended by dignitaries and veterans of the unit, Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt, commanding general, Georgia Army Guard, said that the 265th had the distinction of being one of the most frequently deployed units in the state.
“This is a proud organization that has served for 39 years as an engineer group,” said Nesbitt. “Now the tradition continues in a new direction.”
After saluting former members of the unit who were in attendance, Brig. Gen. Lawrence E. Ross, commander, 78th Troop Command, expressed his confidence that those currently serving in the 265th would continue the proud tradition that had established them as one of Georgia’s best.
“I know that you’re going to be as successful as the unit was, and that you will continue this great legacy,” said Ross.
The current commander of the 265th, Col. Thomas Blackstock, said that he has had the privilege to serve in the unit four separate times over the course of the last 11 years. He called the transition “bittersweet,” expressing nostalgia for the history of the unit, and confidence and enthusiasm for its future.
“The men and women of the 265th have shown remarkable commitment to the mission and extraordinary dedication to each other,” said Blackstock. “We’ll maintain the same vision and values going forward.”
The 265th Engineering Group officially came into being January 1968, and various deployments of the unit have included missions both at home and abroad. The unit was first called to state active duty April 1968 following the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Other stateside deployments have included calls to protect protest marchers in Cummings in 1987, to offer support following the blizzard of 1993, and to relieve flooded regions in 1994’s Operation Crested River. The 265th also provided command and control of National Guard support forces during the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.
More recently, the 265th was activated in support of Operation Vigilant Relief, the 2005 effort to help regions devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Overseas missions have sent the 265th in support of countries across the planet including Grenada, Egypt, Somalia, Panama, Kenya, South Korea, the Country of Georgia, Germany, the Dominican Republic, and various countries throughout the Middle East.
In November 1990, the unit was federally mobilized following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and was assigned to the U. S. Army’s 20th Engineering Brigade, which later crossed into Iraq in support of the 24th Infantry Division.
After September 11, 2001, the 265th was called to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where it assisted the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force with planning as they prepared to go to war.
In 2003, the group was again called into federal service in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, providing command and control to engineers supporting the 1st MEF on the battlefield. During this time, the 265th was also heavily involved in civil military operations and general engineering support for the people of Iraq, returning to Fort Stewart, March 2004.
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