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Vice
President Lauds
48th Brigade
Vice President Richard B. Cheney paid special tribute to the 48th Brigade
Combat Team of the Georgia National Guard during a rally at Fort Stewart,
in June. Cheney lauded the 48th and the 3rd Infantry Division, both of
which recently returned from deployments in Iraq. The 48th BCT of the
Georgia National Guard, said the Vice President, did it all -- "from
helping to stand-up the new Iraqi government, to cordon-and-search
operations, to combat patrol and checkpoint security, to the capture and
detention of suspected terrorists."
Full Story
Savannah Airlifters
Capture Ninth AFOUA
The Georgia Air National Guard's 165th
Airlift Wing has been awarded its ninth Air Force Outstanding
Unit Award. The
award recognizes the 165th’s accomplishments over a two year period in
support of the Global War on Terror when
the 165th Airlift Wing deployed more than 390 Guard members
through ten rotations to more than 16 different locations worldwide. The
unit has operated from airports in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa to the front lines of Iraq, in support of
operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The 165th
Airlift Wing was the first airlift unit to conduct operations from the
most forward operating base in Iraq, and one of the first C-130 units to
fly into Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, supporting Army and Marine
Forces on the front lines.
Full Story
116th Crew Earns
AFA 'Battle Crew' Award
A 116th Air Control Wing Joint STARS crew recently received the Airborne
Battle Management Crew of the Year Award for 2006. The Air Force
Association announced the winners in late July. The award recognizes the
members of “Crew 2” for sustained aerial support in the E-8C while flying
in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. The 24-members of the crew are
scheduled to receive the award in September during ceremonies in
Washington, D.C. As the “premier” air battle management entity in theater
for OIF, Crew 2 provided a much-needed communication link and threat
warning to more than 500 convoy movements.
Full Story
36-Year Career Closes
For Col. McLendon
Georgia Army Guard Col. Larry McClendon brought his military career to
an end, and said farewell to fellow Soldiers during a retirement and
change of command ceremony at the Guard’s Regional Training Institute
(RTI). Mclendon retired after 36 years, serving most recently as the
training institute commander and as the rear detachment commander of
the 48th Brigade Combat Team while the brigade’s main body served a
year in Iraq. Lieutenant Col. Randal Scott Carter assumes command of
RTI.
Full Story
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Adjutant General Gets
More 'Star' Power
David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, received a promotion to
Lieutenant General in July as Gov. Sonny Perdue swapped the TAG's
two-star shoulder board to three stars. The promotion came in a surprise announcement
during the National Guard Association of Georgia’s annual meeting. Poythress becomes the first Adjutant General in
Georgia’s 273-year history to wear three stars. Perdue noted during the
ceremony that the Guard, under Poythress’ leadership, has “taken on
some historic challenges and our men and women have performed
admirably.”
Full Story
Army Guard Families Strengthened
Through 'Strong Bonds' Retreats
Georgia Army Guard
members across the state are strengthening their relationships
through a series of retreats called "Strong Bonds." The three-day
retreats are sponsored by the Georgia National Guard Chaplaincy Program
and are designed to “help soldiers develop the life skills needed to
build strong relationships,” said Col. John Owings, state chaplain. The
retreats enable Soldiers, and those who are significant in their lives, work on problem-solving and relationship skills. Each portion of the
Strong Bonds program is voluntary and free to Guardsmen and their
spouses. Two retreats were held in Atlanta in July with two more
are scheduled for August in Savannah.
Full Story
Coastal MOA Now Operational
For Townsend Range
A high-speed flyover by F-16s carrying Lt. Gen. David Poythress
(pictured above) and Maj. Gen. Scott Hammond was a fitting culmination
of a long process to make the skies over the Georgia National Guard’s
Townsend Bombing Range near Brunswick safer and more productive for
military training. The VIP flyover was followed by a low altitude,
high speed pass by Marine F-18s from MCAS Beaufort. As the fighters
departed the Range, a B-2 stealth bomber conducted a low altitude pass
highlighting the inaugural ceremony at Georgia’s Townsend Range for
what is known as the Coastal MOA.
Full Story
Hoffman Takes Command of 170th MPs
Georgia Army National Guard Lt. Col. Joseph Hoffman took command of
the 170th Military Police Battalion from Lt. Col. Anthony Abbott
during a change of command ceremony attended by more than 100 fellow
Soldiers, family and friends. Upon becoming the 170th’s next
commander, Hoffman leaves his position as logistics officer for
Macon’s 48th Brigade Combat Team. He was among the more than 4,500
brigade Soldiers who spent the past year supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom. As Abbott moves on, he becomes commander of Elberton’s 1st
Battalion, 214th Field Artillery.
Full Story
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Deployment Update |
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185th Aviation Regiment
Takes Off for Kosovo
Less than a year after its organization,
Georgia’s newest
helicopter unit is on its way on its first deployment. The mission is
to support the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) in southern Serbia of the
former Yugoslavia. The detachment's flight crews and maintenance
personnel are being deployed under the direction of 1st Lt. Austin
Allen, a pilot and platoon leader. He will take the unit and its five
new UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Kosovo for up to a year as part of
Task Force Eagle.
Full Story
124th MPAD
Continues
High Profile Mission in Baghdad
Assigned to the Coalition Press Information Center in the
International Green Zone in Baghdad, the Georgia Guard's 124th Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment continues it's deployment in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pictured above, 124th Commander Maj. Chris
Dockery spends time with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during
the Secretary's recent visit to Iraq. |
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A look at what happened in
August
in Georgia National Guard history:…
1898:
The 3rd Georgia Volunteer Infantry, newly formed under the command of
Col. John Candler, was mustered into federal service at Camp Northern
in Macon for duty in the Spanish-American War. Three months later the
unit left for duty in Cuba.
1921:
The
headlines in the Macon Telegraph read: “STATE MILITARY NOW IN BAD WAY,
Will Have to Operate On Sum of $600 For Year, FACTIONAL FIGHT IS
CAUSE." The article explained that for several years a faction in the
State House had been at odds with the head of the State Military
Department. The appropriation, according to the article, given to the
State Military Department for 1922 and 1923 was $25,000. The Adjutant
General, Brig. Gen. J. Van Holt Nash, noted in a letter to the Chief
of the Militia Bureau in Washington that “because of the
appropriation’s amount there is uncertainty about organizing
additional units allotted to the state.”
1958:
Governor Marvin
Griffin announced that he called up Georgia National Guardsmen for
Labor Day weekend duty to assist state troopers in “Operation
Deathless.” Griffin said use of the Guard, plus the extra publicity,
would let motorists know that state roads “are not racetracks.”
Georgia Guardsmen were in radio equipped jeeps and spotter planes to
alert local law enforcement and state troopers of driving violations.
Complied by Gail Parnelle,
GaARNG Historical Section |
Historical Society Conference
To Feature
Deployment Panel
The 2006 Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard conference
focuses this year on the good, the bad and the ugly of deployments. Slated
for Nov. 4, at the Macon Conference Center at the Holiday Hotel at Riverside Drive and I-75, the forum will feature Georgia
Army and Air National Guardsmen in a round-table discussion on topics
ranging from public affairs, air and ground operations, to family issues.
Cost of this year’s
conference, which includes a catered lunch, is $20. For more information
contact: John Hardwick or
B. I. Diamond.
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