First Friday Briefing for August 2004

1148th Welcomed Home
Following Iraqi Freedom Service
Members of Thomasville’s 1148th Transportation Company, the last ground unit of the Georgia Army National Guard deployed to Iraq stepped off a commercial airliner and back onto Georgia soil July 2.
Also...
1148th Transportation Soldiers receive awards - story and photos here.

Ross Receives First Star in
Troop Command Ceremony
Georgia Army National Guard Col. Larry R. Ross stood tall, wearing a slight smile and a lot of pride as he received his first star Sunday, July 11, 2004, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a 30-minute ceremony at 78th Troop Command headquarters.

R&R Battalion Honors
Georgia Guard's Top Recruiters
The Georgia Army Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion held its annual awards and recognition dinner in July to honor those soldiers who have made exceptional contributions to the R&R efforts.

O'Neal Earns Legion of Merit for 'Exceptional Service'
Georgia Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 5 Charles B. O’Neal was honored with the Legion of Merit during his retirement ceremony in July at the Department of Logistics. The Douglasville resident also received a Special Service Award for his 34 years of service to the National Guard.

Family Readiness Conference
Scheduled for 13-15 Aug
Georgia Army and Air Guardsmen, senior leadership and family readiness volunteers from across the state will attend the second annual combined Family Readiness Workshop and Leadership Conference Aug. 13 to 15 at Atlanta’s Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Hammond Appointed Commander of Georgia Air National Guard
Governor Sonny Perdue announced in July the appointment of Brig. Gen. Scott A. Hammond as commander, Georgia Air National Guard. Hammond, a native of Lancaster, OH, was formerly Chief of Staff of the Georgia Air National Guard.

Radcliff take command
Of 1-214th Field Artillery
Lt. Col. Woody Radcliff took command of 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery in a change of command ceremony in Elberton, in July. The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Craig McGalliard, led the unit during its deployment in support of Operation Noble Eagle and more recently the G-8 Summit.

Georgians Earn Spot
On All Marathon Team
Two Georgia Guardsmen  have earned spots on the All Guard Marathon Team after running in the 27th Annual Lincoln All-Sport National Guard Marathon & Half Marathon on May 2 in Lincoln, NB. Maj. Sue Shipman, Army Guard, and Maj. Monica Navarro Smith, of the Air Guard's 283rd Combat Comm. Squadron, both qualified for the All Guard Team. Maj. Blake Uhl, Combat Readiness Training Center, was team coordinator.

Georgia Lawmaker, Generals
Selected for NGAUS Honors
State Representative Ken Birdsong has been selected to receive the 2004 Charles Dick Medal of Merit by the National Guard Association of the United States. Retired Brig. Gen. Douglas Padgett, former commander of the Georgia Air National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Joel W. Seymour, commander Georgia State Defense Force, have been named recipients of the association's Meritorious Service Award.

History Society Announces
Date, Topic of Annual Conference
Members of the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard hold their annual conference Oct. 23, with the War Between the States as this year’s theme. Guest speakers will address subjects such as the Battle Kennesaw, its impact on the Battle of Atlanta and talk of Black confederates.

165th Fire Unit Judged
Nation's Best ANG Fire Department
The Georgia Air National Guard 165th Airlift Wing’s Fire Protection Branch has been awarded the “Chief Master Sergeant Edward W. Wolbert” Fire Department of the Year Award for 2003. The distinctive award recognizes the ANG fire department at Savannah ’s 165th Airlift Wing as the best of more than 80 ANG fire departments across the nation.

RAID Teams With Other States
For 'Huntsman' Mission
To Protect POTUS
A unique partnership of Guardsmen from five southern states collaborated to support the President of the United States (POTUS) and other delegates from surface to air threats during the recent G8 Summit.

Col Retired Bill Ridley,
Former Air Guardsman, Dies
Retired Colonel William Edward “Bill” Ridley Jr, a 33-year veteran of the Georgia Air National Guard and twice president of the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard passed away in early July. He served for 33 years as a full-time employee of the Air National Guard and retired as chief of intelligence for the former 116th Tactical Fighter Wing.