camp director
Lieutenant Col. Robert B. Gaston (left), commander Georgia Counter Drug Task Force, hands Shane Goddard, director Pineland-Camp Pioneer, and the task force challenge coin. Gaston also presented Goddard the Georgia Commendation Medal for all he’s done in support of the CDTF. (Georgia National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roy Henry)

Counter Drug honors
camp director 

By Staff Sgt. Roy Henry
Georgia National Guard
Public Affairs Office

LAGRANGE – Georgia Counter Drug Task Force honored the man who has helped that organization meet its goals in training of civilian law enforcement officers for the past four years at Pineland-Camp Pioneer.

In a ceremony outside the camp gymnasium, Lt. Col. Robert B. Gaston presented Shane Goddard the Georgia Commendation Medal and a Counter Drug Task Force challenge coin.

“Shane has been invaluable to our mission of helping counter drug agents and anti-terrorist officers from across the state improve on how they do their jobs,” Gaston told a formation of Georgia Counter Drug Task Force instructors. “His selfless commitment to assisting us, and our students, in every possible way, is something for which we’ll always be grateful.”

Goddard, whose been at Pineland for the past 11 years, said he didn’t believe he deserves the recognition, but has never been more honored to receive an award than the ones Gaston gave him.

“Being able to serve our National Guard, our law enforcement community, my community and my state has always been my pleasure,” Goddard said.

“Our Guard, our police and our sheriff’s give much to us,” he added. “Having them here is only a small way of repaying them for what they do.”

After the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hurndon also passed on his thanks and congratulations to Goddard. Patriots such as Goddard, he said, don’t do seek reward for what they do. They simply do it because it’s needs to be done.

“How can we not honor that,” Hurndon said. “How does that not deserve our recognition and appreciation.”

Pineland-Camp Pioneer’s 2,700-acre facility off Youngsmill Road, is operated by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. Besides making its self available to the training of civilian law enforcement officers, the camp primary purpose is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment to abused and neglected children.

Goddard stated that more than 700 children, alone, come to Pineland for summer camp each year. The rest of the time, the site plays host to more than an estimated 3,500 folks who come to the site to use its camping and recreational facilities.

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